Illegal online gambling in EU hits €91.6bn, sparking fresh concerns

Illegal online gambling continues to present a growing challenge for regulators, licensed operators and policymakers across Europe. New estimates presented during a roundtable at the European Parliament suggest that the unlicensed online gambling market targeting consumers across the European Union expanded significantly during 2025, raising concerns about consumer protection, public finances and cross-border enforcement.

According to figures presented during the event, the illegal online gambling market aimed at EU consumers reached an estimated value of €91.6 billion in 2025. This represents an increase of approximately 14 percent compared with the previous estimate and has prompted renewed calls for stronger cooperation between European institutions, national authorities and licensed gambling operators.

Updated figures reveal continued market growth

The latest estimates were presented during a roundtable organised by the European Casino Association (ECA) at the European Parliament. Although the event had originally referenced a 2024 market estimate of €80 billion, newly available research updated that figure during the meeting itself.

The revised assessment suggests that illegal online gambling activity continues to grow despite ongoing regulatory efforts across many European jurisdictions. The European Casino Association stated that the expansion of the unlicensed market could have resulted in approximately €22.9 billion in lost tax revenue for EU Member States during 2025.

These figures illustrate the financial impact that illegal operators may have on public finances while also highlighting broader concerns relating to consumer protection and regulatory oversight.

Research examines the scale of the illegal market

The latest estimates are based on an annual study commissioned by the European Casino Association and conducted by Gambling Compliance International (GCI).

According to the research, more than 6,200 illegal gambling operators are actively targeting consumers throughout the EU. The report further estimates that unlicensed operators now account for the majority of online gambling revenue generated within the EU-27 market.

Researchers also indicated that a significant proportion of online gambling content viewed by European consumers promotes operators that do not hold appropriate licences within the jurisdictions they target.

While methodologies for estimating illegal market activity can vary, the findings presented at the event were intended to contribute to ongoing policy discussions surrounding enforcement and consumer safety.

Industry calls for stronger enforcement

During the event, European Casino Association Chair Erwin van Lambaart discussed the challenges facing licensed gambling operators and policymakers.

He said:

“The 2025 data from the GCI report leaves no room for doubt: illegal online gambling is a fast-growing, cross-border problem that puts players, especially young adults, at high risk, deprives societies of much-needed tax revenues and undermines trust in the regulated market.

“Licensed casinos and their online businesses operate under strict rules and invest heavily in responsible gambling and anti-money-laundering measures. Yet illegal operators, often based outside the EU, can reach European consumers at the click of a button, without safeguards, without oversight and without contributing to our communities.”

Van Lambaart also stressed the importance of closer collaboration between governments, regulators and European institutions when addressing illegal gambling activity that operates across national borders.

He added:

“This is why we need strong political will and strengthened public-private cooperation that is aligned with this reality. By connecting national enforcement efforts, financial intelligence units and sector expertise, European institutions and agencies such as the European Commission, Europol and AMLA can help us turn data into action. If we fail to act now, the illegal online market will continue to grow at the expense of players, public finances and legitimate businesses.”

European institutions discuss cross-border cooperation

The roundtable was hosted by Member of the European Parliament Lukas Mandl and brought together representatives from several European institutions alongside national regulators and gambling industry experts.

Participants included representatives from the European Commission, the Anti-Money Laundering Authority (AMLA), Eurojust, the Joint Parliamentary Scrutiny Group on Europol, national gambling regulators and industry stakeholders.

The discussions were conducted under the Chatham House Rule, allowing participants to exchange views openly without attributing specific comments to individuals outside the meeting.

According to the European Casino Association, attendees acknowledged that illegal online gambling remains an increasingly significant issue across Europe. Participants also discussed existing enforcement measures and explored opportunities to strengthen cooperation between public authorities and private sector organisations.

Europol reform enters the discussion

The timing of the discussion coincides with broader policy developments at the European level, including proposals by the European Commission to reform the mandate of Europol.

Supporters of stronger enforcement believe enhanced cooperation between European agencies could improve efforts to identify illegal gambling networks that operate across multiple jurisdictions.

The discussion also recognised that effective enforcement often requires collaboration between financial intelligence units, law enforcement agencies, gambling regulators and licensed operators.

Such cooperation may help authorities identify suspicious financial activity, disrupt illegal operations and improve consumer protection within regulated gambling markets.

Consumer protection remains a central issue

One of the recurring themes during the roundtable was the potential impact of illegal online gambling on consumers.

Licensed gambling operators within regulated European markets are generally required to comply with legal obligations relating to responsible gambling, anti-money laundering controls, customer verification and player protection measures.

By contrast, organisations that operate without the required licences may not be subject to the same regulatory requirements within the jurisdictions they target.

Industry representatives argued that this difference creates challenges for consumer protection while also placing licensed businesses under competitive pressure from operators that do not follow equivalent regulatory standards.

The European Casino Association maintained that continued cooperation between governments, regulators and industry participants could contribute to a safer online gambling environment across Europe.

Calls for coordinated European action

Lukas Mandl also commented on the broader policy implications of illegal gambling during the event.

He said:

“Illegal online gambling is not a niche issue, it is a serious cross-border threat that touches on consumer protection, organised crime and the integrity of our internal market. Europol is a crucial partner for Member States, but we must ensure that its mandate and resources allow it to fully support the fight against these illegitimate activities.”

He continued:

“The evidence presented by the European Casino Association today shows where cooperation is needed to do more. I will bring these insights into our parliamentary work and encourage colleagues cross-party to jointly go against the negative effects of illegal gambling from mental health issues to existential disasters of individuals and entire families, so that we can better protect citizens and make a clear difference between criminal activities and those operators who play by the rules.”

Conclusion

The latest figures presented by the European Casino Association suggest that illegal online gambling continues to represent a significant challenge for policymakers and regulators across the European Union. While the estimates provide an indication of the scale of the issue, discussions at the European Parliament focused primarily on improving cooperation between institutions rather than proposing immediate legislative changes.

For licensed operators, the continued growth of unlicensed gambling platforms highlights the importance of maintaining effective regulatory frameworks that support responsible gambling, financial transparency and consumer safeguards. Industry representatives argue that stronger enforcement can help preserve confidence in regulated markets while reducing opportunities for unlawful operators to target European consumers.

As discussions continue among European institutions, regulators and industry stakeholders, further policy development is likely to focus on cross-border cooperation, intelligence sharing and coordinated enforcement. Whether these initiatives lead to measurable reductions in illegal online gambling activity will depend on the effectiveness of future collaboration between Member States and relevant European agencies.

FAQs

What is the estimated size of the illegal online gambling market in the EU?
According to figures presented during the European Parliament roundtable, the illegal online gambling market targeting EU consumers was estimated at approximately €91.6 billion in 2025.

Who presented the latest market estimates?
The figures were presented during a roundtable organised by the European Casino Association and were based on research conducted by Gambling Compliance International.

Why are regulators concerned about illegal online gambling?
Illegal operators may operate outside national licensing systems and may not be subject to the same consumer protection, responsible gambling and anti-money laundering requirements as licensed operators.

How many illegal operators are estimated to target EU consumers?
The study estimates that more than 6,200 illegal gambling operators actively target consumers across the European Union.

Why is lost tax revenue an important issue?
According to the estimates discussed during the event, EU Member States may have missed approximately €22.9 billion in tax revenue due to gambling activity taking place through unlicensed operators.

Who attended the European Parliament roundtable?
The meeting included representatives from the European Parliament, European Commission, Europol, AMLA, Eurojust, national gambling regulators and industry experts.

What role could Europol play in addressing illegal gambling?
Participants discussed how Europol could support cross-border investigations and strengthen cooperation between Member States in tackling illegal gambling networks.

What is the European Casino Association calling for?
The association has called for stronger cooperation between governments, regulators, law enforcement agencies and European institutions to improve enforcement against illegal gambling.

Does the report recommend immediate legislative changes?
The discussion focused primarily on improving cooperation and enforcement. The event did not announce any immediate legislative changes.

Why is online gambling regulation important?
Regulation helps establish standards for consumer protection, responsible gambling, anti-money laundering measures and market integrity while providing oversight for licensed operators.