As most horse racing bettors and enthusiasts know, the Grand National is one of the largest events they all look forward to, and the main race attracts numerous viewers. It is also an event many people from across the UK enjoy wagering on, as it’s almost a tradition.
However, the Betting and Gaming Council (BGC) has revealed some troubling information about the Grand National betting.
A Large Grand National Illegal Betting Scene
Some reports indicate that around £250 million was wagered on the 2025 Grand National, out of which £150 million was on the main Saturday race alone. While we still don’t have all the numbers for the 2026 Grand National betting activity, we don’t expect the numbers to have decreased from last year.
What worries the BGC is the estimate that around £100 million was wagered on the 2026 Grand National on the black market, with unlicensed operators in the UK.
It is estimated that illegal bets on the largest event, the Saturday Grand National race, amounted to whopping £40 million.
When we compare these numbers, we can see that much of the tax revenue has gone out the window due to bettors wagering on this and other events with unlicensed operators.
What Could Be Causing This Problem?
The online gambling market in the UK is worth £8.2bn a year, and it generates £4bn in tax revenue. Not all the money goes through legal online gambling channels, and some estimates are that the illegal online gambling accounts for around 9% of all gambling money.
Online gambling rules in the UK are strict, and legal operators are obliged to comply with them if they wish to remain compliant and continue operating in the market. However, the operators that can’t comply and users who don’t want to go through all the checks and adhere to the rules can turn to the rogue side of the industry.
High operating costs for operators and detailed checks for bettors are only some of the potential issues that allow the black market to grow. The immoral practices of bypassing Gamstop make this market even more dangerous, which is the main problem the UKGC needs to tackle to prevent illegal gambling.
