Black market set to take £500 million on jump racing season, BGC warns

Illegal bookmakers are set to take around £500 million in bets during Britain’s 2026-27 National Hunt season, the Betting and Gaming Council (BGC) has warned. The trade body expects £10 million to be staked illegally at this weekend’s Cheltenham November Meeting alone, with the King George VI Chase, Cheltenham Festival and Grand National still to come. It did not say how it calculated the figures. The warning comes ahead of Safer Gambling Week (16-22 November). The BGC said licensed bookmakers must meet age verification, anti-money laundering and safer gambling requirements.