BGC chief calls for industry collaboration to tackle black market gambling at GAMLG event

Betting and Gaming Council (BGC) CEO Grainne Hurst has called for greater industry collaboration to combat financial crime, warning of the growing threat posed by the illegal gambling black market. Speaking at the annual Gambling Anti-Money Laundering Group (GAMLG) training event in London, Hurst emphasized the need for a unified response to protect the regulated betting and gaming sector.  

“This is a shared challenge, and it requires a shared response,” Hurst said. “GAMLG is the independent body by which we can, together, raise standards across our sector, and ensure we are fulfilling our responsibilities to keep regulated betting and gaming crime-free."

The event brought together regulators, law enforcement officials, and industry experts to discuss challenges in fraud prevention, Anti-Money Laundering (AML), and Counter-Terrorist Financing (CTF). Key participants included representatives from the UK Gambling Commission, HM Treasury, UK Financial Intelligence Unit, and West Midlands Police Economic Crime Unit.  

Hurst highlighted a BGC study estimating that 1.5 million UK adults spend up to £4.3 billion ($5.39 billion) annually on unregulated gambling platforms, raising concerns over illicit funding.  

“While we work hard in this space, we are acutely aware of how black market gambling is being used to fund illegal business empires,” she said.  

GAMLG, chaired by Keith Bristow, former Director General of the National Crime Agency, serves as an independent platform to raise industry standards in AML and CTF. With over 100 attendees, the event reinforced the sector’s commitment to preventing crime.  

The industry is developing a new AML Code aimed at enhancing fraud prevention while ensuring player safety, Hurst said. For the first time, non-BGC members were invited to the GAMLG event, reflecting a broader push for transparency and knowledge sharing.  

The BGC represents over 90% of the UK’s regulated betting and gaming sector, including retail bookmakers, land-based casinos, and online gaming operators. The industry contributes £6.8 billion ($8.52 billion) to the UK economy, £4 billion ($5.01 billion) in tax revenue, and supports 109,000 jobs, according to the BGC.

GAMLG and the BGC said they will continue working alongside regulators, government bodies, and law enforcement to strengthen AML and CTF measures.  

“GAMLG is a vital platform to prevent money laundering, fraud, and terrorist financing,” said Keith Bristow. “The professionalism and commitment of our members keep the industry crime-free. Unfortunately, this is bad news for organized crime and fraudsters.”