ILLEGAL gambling firms are set for a bumper payday as an estimated £2million is staked on the black market for today’s historic St Leger.
Industry bosses say illicit bookies will be targeting horseracing fans over the four days of the Doncaster meeting’s 250th anniversary.
Dodgy companies can then cash in without paying UK tax or offering safeguards to punters.
The alert comes as bookies face an onslaught of new taxes, opposed by The Sun’s Save Our Bets campaign.
It has led companies to close High Street stores.
Grainne Hurst, boss of the Betting and Gaming Council, said: “Major sporting occasions also attract criminal gambling operators looking to exploit the excitement and interest they generate.
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“Millions of pounds are expected to be staked with illegal operators across the St Leger meeting, with those businesses contributing nothing to racing.
“They pay no UK tax and offering customers none of the protections that exist in the regulated market.
“We must make sure the regulated market which supports British racing remains strong and competitive, while doing everything possible to stop the criminal black market gaining further ground.”
There is anger in the industry at the major impact of taxes on the industry on top of other costs.
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