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IFHA study finds unlicensed betting visits in Britain reach 19.4 per 100 licensed visits

Regulation

An IFHA study found that unlicensed betting sites recorded 19.4 visits for every 100 visits to licensed sites in Britain during the first seven months of 2026, compared with about one per 100 in late 2021. Monthly visits to unlicensed sites in the sample rose from 1.8 million in 2022 to more than 25 million in 2025, while licensed-site traffic fell 34%.

The figures indicate rising use of unlicensed sites, which the study said could affect racing’s funding and integrity.

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Bristol study finds voluntary shirt sponsor ban cuts gambling visibility 10.5%

A University of Bristol study recorded 15,571 gambling messages during the first weekend of the 2026/27 English top-flight season, with the voluntary front-of-shirt sponsorship ban cutting logo visibility by only 10.5%. Sleeve sponsorships rose 362% and pitch-side advertising accounted for 72% of messages during live matches. Sir Iain Duncan Smith, co-chair of the British parliamentary group on gambling reform, said the data showed the voluntary approach had failed.

Research carried out at the University of Bristol measured how often betting branding appeared on the front of shirts in the English top division. Compared with the season before, the voluntary restriction lowered the visibility of gambling logos by 10.5%. Over the opening weekend of the 2026/27 campaign, the researchers logged 15,571 gambling-related messages, amounting to five hours and 16 minutes of combined exposure.

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