UK Gambling Commission Releases First Open Banking Analysis of Suspected Illegal Gambling Activity

The UK Gambling Commission has published its initial examination of anonymised open banking transaction data collected through YouGov, covering approximately 38,000 individuals and 157.2 million transactions spanning July 2018 to July 2026, and the figures identify 3,426 suspected illegal gambling transactions involving 179 people.

Researchers compiled the dataset to track payment patterns that fall outside the licensed market, and the commission's report details how these transactions cluster among a small subset of users while revealing connections to broader gambling behaviour.

Scale and Scope of the Transaction Data

Analysts examined records that capture both licensed and unlicensed payments, which allowed them to isolate activity directed toward operators without UK authorisation, and the 179 individuals flagged represent a narrow slice of the overall sample yet account for thousands of individual transfers.

Most of those 179 people conducted multiple illegal transactions, and the data shows repeated engagement rather than isolated incidents across the multi-year period.

Overlap Between Illegal and Licensed Gambling

Among participants who made repeated illegal payments, 91 percent also placed wagers with licensed operators, and licensed activity showed no substantial decline after the first illegal transaction appeared in their records. Observers note this pattern indicates illegal play often supplements rather than replaces regulated betting for many users.

The commission's findings illustrate that individuals who cross into unlicensed sites continue their existing habits with authorised firms, which creates a dual-channel profile rather than a complete shift away from the regulated sector.

Problem Gambling Indicators and Harm Levels

Problem gambling rates stood markedly higher among those who engaged in illegal activity, with 45 percent scoring 8 or above on the Problem Gambling Severity Index compared with 6 percent among individuals who used only licensed operators within the same dataset. Researchers tracked PGSI scores alongside transaction histories to establish this correlation.

Those who recorded illegal payments also demonstrated elevated overall gambling volumes, and the commission highlights that the combination of unlicensed access and higher problem gambling scores points to increased harm potential within this group.

Context of Ongoing Policy Discussions

The release arrives while policymakers examine potential tax adjustments and measures aimed at curbing black market growth, and the commission positions the open banking analysis as one tool for understanding how unlicensed operators attract users who already participate in the licensed market.

Data from the study shows illegal transactions often occur alongside continued licensed play, which suggests enforcement strategies may need to address both channels simultaneously rather than assuming displacement effects.

Methodology and Limitations

YouGov supplied the anonymised banking records that formed the foundation of the analysis, and the commission applied filters to identify payments matching known characteristics of unlicensed gambling sites. The resulting 3,426 transactions emerged after cross-referencing account details with operator lists maintained by the regulator.

Because the dataset draws from voluntary participants who shared banking information, it does not represent the full UK population, yet the commission presents the findings as an initial benchmark for future monitoring efforts.

Conclusion

The commission's open banking review supplies concrete transaction-level evidence on suspected illegal gambling, and the patterns it uncovers link repeated unlicensed activity to sustained licensed play plus elevated problem gambling scores. Further analyses of similar datasets are expected to refine these observations as the regulator continues to track developments through November 2026 and beyond.