An industry estimate of £8 million in illegal stakes has intensified pressure on licensed bookmakers during major British racing events.

About £8 million may have been staked with illegal gambling operators during the 2026 St Leger Festival, according to the Betting and Gaming Council. The trade body estimates that about £2 million of the total may have been placed on the St Leger itself.

The council issued the warning on 14 September, two days after the 250th running of the race at Doncaster Racecourse. The four-day festival ran from 10 to 13 September. The main race took place on Saturday, 12 September. More than 30,000 people attended St Leger Day, according to Doncaster Racecourse.

What the £8 million figure means

The estimate comes from the Betting and Gaming Council, which represents licensed betting and gaming businesses. It is not a regulator’s count. The Gambling Commission has not presented the figure as an independently verified measure of illegal betting at Doncaster.

The figure refers to estimated stakes, not operator revenue or confirmed customer losses. It does not show the amount lost by customers, the number of people who used illegal sites or the tax generated by the activity.

  • Estimated illegal stakes during the festival: about £8 million.
  • Estimated stakes on the St Leger: about £2 million.
  • Festival dates: 10 to 13 September 2026.
  • Attendance on St Leger Day: more than 30,000 people.

The council said illegal operators targeting British customers avoid requirements imposed on licensed businesses. These include age checks, anti-money-laundering controls and safer-gambling measures. It also said illegal operators make no direct contribution through the regulated betting market to British horseracing.

Why licensed bookmakers face pressure

Licensed bookmakers must compete with sites that may offer fewer checks and less friction for customers. Operators licensed in Great Britain remain responsible for identifying risk, monitoring customer activity and intervening when gambling may be causing harm.

Major sporting events bring concentrated betting activity over a short period. That creates an opportunity for unlicensed operators to target British customers through offshore websites, social media and payment channels.

The Gambling Commission’s 2026 money-laundering and terrorist-financing risk assessment, published on 30 July, identifies the increased presence of illegal casinos targeting British consumers as a growing concern. It rates remote casino, betting and bingo as a high-risk sector for exposure to money laundering and terrorist financing.

The assessment covers risks examined between 1 April 2023 and 31 October 2025. Its publication provides regulatory context for the council’s warning, but it does not verify the £8 million estimate.

How the regulator defines illegal gambling

The Gambling Commission defines illegal gambling in Great Britain as commercial gambling offered without a Commission operating licence or a valid exemption. A licence issued by another country does not permit an operator to offer gambling to consumers in Great Britain.

The regulator says illegal markets create a high risk of consumer harm because they operate outside the British licensing framework. Its enforcement work includes disrupting websites, referring domains to search engines and engaging payment and hosting providers.

If customers move to illegal sites, licensed operators can lose betting activity while still carrying the cost of complying with British rules. Racing may also lose income linked to the regulated betting market.

The policy dispute

The St Leger warning has renewed a long-running dispute. Industry representatives argue that a less competitive licensed market may push some customers towards illegal alternatives. Regulators and consumer-protection groups say stronger safeguards and action against unlicensed operators must work together.

The £8 million estimate cannot resolve that argument. It does show how a major British sporting event can test the boundary between licensed gambling, customer protection and the illegal market.