According to the Deal Me Out research, social media and streamers are fuelling the growth of the illicit market. 

 According to a recent analysis by the gambling charity Deal Me Out, a lack of regulated bitcoin wagering, increased friction on licensed products, and influencers and streamers sending users to illicit websites are all pushing UK gamblers to the black market.

 On April 9, the gambling hazards awareness group Deal Me Out released its research on the black market.  More than 1,250 youngsters, 300 adults, and 10 gambling content makers in the UK responded to the survey, which discovered that social media influencers and the tension caused by stricter laws are pushing a sizable portion of gamblers to unregulated gambling platforms.

 According to the analysis, affiliate links shared by influencers and broadcasters on social media can drive up to five million clicks each month to black market websites.

 These influencers are also offering guidance on how to use VPNs and steer clear of tracking when visiting illicit market websites.

 According to the survey, 90% of content creators who responded claimed to have utilised BC Game, an online cryptocurrency betting platform that is no longer licensed in the UK through a white label deal.  When a local court declared it bankrupt in December for not paying players the money they were due, it left Curaçao.

 "As always guys, if you want to play on BC Game and support me as a gambling content creator, and if you want your quick spins, your auto plays, your bonus buys, no ID checks, no verification, and full player protection, then make sure you sign up via gamblersden.com or use the link down below," one creator who actively promoted the website in their stream was observed telling viewers.

 a large number of minors using the illicit market
 According to the survey, a sizable portion of minors may also be involved in illicit internet gambling.

 Up to 420,000 minors may be using illegal gambling websites, according to Deal Me Out's estimation. They have a special preference for loot boxes and in-game money in video games.  Younger gamblers were also more inclined to choose cryptocurrency gambling sites, which are illegal in the UK, according to the survey.

 According to one young person interviewed, they began gambling when they were fourteen years old.

 For me, it was social.  After school, my pals and I would go on to Discord and watch one another bet.  We would also be playing games with our buddies from Asia, South America, and the United States.  An interviewee known only as MT stated, "There's something really alluring about sitting next to your friends on a virtual table."

 The prevalence of gambling by minors has been well documented.  According to a 2023 Institute of Public Health research from Ireland, around one in four 16-year-olds have engaged in financial gambling.  Ten percent of respondents who gambled in the study said they had risked too much.

 Displeasing the Gambling Commission's rules
 Following the review of the Gambling Act and the ensuing white paper in April 2023, the gambling industry in the United Kingdom is currently undergoing a regulatory reform.

 First-time depositors must adhere to obligatory deposit limitations, while spin stake limits on slots are set at £5 for people 25 and older and £2 for those 18 to 24.

 According to Deal Me Out, customers have voiced their displeasure over the removal of features like bonuses and turbo spins as well as their worries about providing operators with additional personal information.

 In order to escape conflict and regulation, some gamblers are opting to use international black market websites.

 "Disruptive methods alone against black market operators do not effectively address the problem," the group has cautioned.

 It pointed out that since mirror websites frequently pop up anytime a website is blocked or ordered to be taken down, cease-and-desist letters sent to criminals and offshore payment providers can result in games of "whack-a-mole."

 The report concluded that "people that gamble and those that don't are equally unable to tell what is regulated and what is not," indicating a lack of public awareness on which websites and verticals are prohibited.

 Black market games are necessary for influencers and content producers.
 Influencers and online content producers have acknowledged that they are increasingly playing with illegal goods.

 One YouTube content maker stated in the article, "Regulation has forced our hand; if we don't use crypto casinos we just can't compete."

 "We can no longer provide our viewers with high-rolling material, turbo spins, or bonus buys in the UK.  I can see why the Gambling Commission established these regulations; we should do everything in our power to prevent addiction, but giving customers a bad experience will just make the illegal market [grow].

 "Just look at content creators in Germany, France, and Belgium – they're all using crypto casinos," a TikTok creator continued.  Australians, Canadians, and Americans.  I'll show you a fool if you can find a streamer that produces stuff on UK-regulated websites.

 Deal Me Out demands that the black market be addressed.
 Deal Me Out has suggested that the government and regulators address several public safety hazards.

 It has demanded a "urgent review" of cryptocurrency gaming in order to stop international blockchain companies from interacting with UK nationals, especially young players.

 To educate the public about the black market, phoney games, payment refusals, and the criminal behaviour linked to these issues, a preventative information campaign should also be launched.

 Deal Me Out expressed "increasing concern" that more laws will "disproportionately" push those with gambling addictions towards the underground market.

 The organisation stated that while it does not oppose slot limitations or affordability checks, it is urging decision-makers to take regulation's effects into account.

 A similar study by the Betting and Gaming Council (BGC) estimates that each year, UK gamblers wager about £2.7 billion ($3.4 billion/3.1 billion) with black market operators.

 The BGC discovered that 12% of the money spent by players on both legal and illicit platforms—a total of £2 billion annually—was spent with illegal operators.  Every year, those who only accessed illicit websites paid £695 million.