A number of recent developments have created a thought-provoking debate within the UK gambling industry regarding the threat of the black market.

On the one hand, the Gambling Commission has joined campaigners and charities in arguing that the threat of black-market operators has been exaggerated by UK operators.

The Betting and Gaming Council, however, has pushed even harder to emphasise the difference between what it sees as safe, regulated operators and illegal companies.

A divisive issue, Gambling Insider decided to put the question to our readers on social media.

On LinkedIn, a majority of voters voted in favour of the industry.

When posed with the question "Is the threat of black market betting legitimate or has it been exaggerated by the industry?" out of 147 voters, 67% ticked the "It is legitimate" option (99).

A total of 48 people ticked the box "It is exaggerated by operators" which constituted 33% of LinkedIn voters.

On Twitter, the results were slightly different (although the total amount of votes was smaller).

Out of 40 votes, 22 voted in favour of the option suggesting the threat has been exaggerated (55%) and 18 voted that the threat is legitimate (45%).

These early results show opinion is split but that, overall, more of our readers side with the industry's warnings against the black market.