Almost £10.0 million (€11.9 million/$13.1 million) could be illegally bet on this weekend’s Grand National, according to new analysis by the Betting & Gaming Council (BGC).
As the showpiece event on Britain’s horse racing calendar, the Grand National is popular with both regular and seasonal bettors. However, while many will wager with licensed operators, the BGC expects millions to be bet via illegal routes.
The BGC estimates £9.4m will be staked with black market operators this year. This represents 3.8% of the overall £250.0 million the BGC expects to be wagered on the race. The race takes place tomorrow (5 April) at Aintree Racecourse.
BGC CEO Grainne Hurst said this should serve as a “wake-up call” for the government. As illegal operators do not pay tax in Britain, the government would miss out on significant tax revenue.
According to the BGC, the Grand National alone will generate £3.0 million in tax revenue and £2.0 million in contributions to the horse racing levy to suppor..
