Flutter Entertainment has revealed staggering figures for the 2026 Cheltenham Festival, with its UK and Ireland brands, Paddy Power, Betfair, and Sky Bet, processing a total of 34 million online bets.
The company reported that 2.7 million active customers engaged with its platforms throughout the prestigious four-day event. These figures follow a “historically profitable” festival for William Hill, which saw its best-ever day on Wednesday, March 11.
The Looming Shadow of the “Black Market”
Despite the regulated success, the Betting and Gaming Council (BGC) has issued a stark warning regarding the illegal sector. The Council estimates that up to £60 million could have been staked with unlicensed operators during the week. This concern is heightened by the upcoming online gambling tax hike in the UK, which is set to nearly double from 21% to 40% this April.
Grainne Hurst, CEO of the Betting and Gaming Council, addressed the risk:
“The criminal harmful black market also tried to cash in, targeting punters with illegal betting that offers none of the protections provided in the regulated sector. Rising taxes and increasingly intrusive checks will only make it harder for legitimate operators to compete.”
The BGC maintains that the government’s priority must remain on keeping players within the regulated market to ensure consumer safety and high standards of integrity, including betting on the 2026 Cheltenham Festival.
