An investigator has revealed the extent of the illegal gambling market in the UK after opening an account posing as a seven-year-old. 

With the unlicensed market totalling around £2.7bn annually, according to the Betting and Gaming Council, it has led to an increased awareness and concern over its existence. 

Alex Wood, a former convicted fraudster, was hired by Flutter UKI to investigate the market which led him to opening a number of suspicious accounts in order to see how those reacted.

Wood, co-host of BBC Radio 4’s Scam Secrets and advisor to the UK Government, spoke about the ease of which anyone of any age could sign up, highlighting his examples of a seven and 213-year-old profile. 

He said: “I was shocked by the scale of the illegal gambling market in the UK and there are big questions for the authorities.

“The sheer ease with which gamblers can access unlicensed platforms entirely undermines the legislative framework which exists for the regulated gambling sector.

“Worse still, these illegal platforms are being widely advertised across mainstream channels such as Apple and Meta.

“This gives the platforms the veneer of legitimacy – when they are actively preying on the vulnerable. I set up one account as “Bo Peep”, a 7 year-old, and “she” is still being contacted by illegal sites reminding her that she has free spins.

”On another black market account I was able to have a bet on the horses as 213 year-old Charles Dickens – it beggars belief.”

Other findings included one of the more typical issues: being unable to withdraw winnings. 

One platform, named Lucky Wave, told him he needed to put in £10,000 in order to get his initial deposit back. 

In reference to the UK’s latest stance on gambling, notably the potential rise in taxes, he warned that more must be done to fight against the illegal market. 

“Against the backdrop of looming tax rises on the regulated sector, the Gambling Commission simply has to do more to tackle the illegal gambling market.

“But the Financial Conduct Authority must also take action against payment service providers who are enabling people in the UK to gamble on the black market.

“You have to take away the ability for these transactions to happen in the first place.”