Europe’s illegal online gambling market continues to expand at a rapid pace, with a new study estimating that unlicensed operators targeting EU consumers generated €91.6 billion in 2025. The figure, presented during a European Parliament roundtable hosted by the European Casino Association (ECA), represents an increase of around 14% from the previous year’s estimate and has intensified calls for stronger cross-border enforcement.
According to research commissioned by the ECA and conducted by Gambling Compliance International, more than 6,200 illegal gambling websites are actively targeting players across the EU. The report also estimates that unlicensed operators now account for the majority of online gambling revenue across the EU-27, highlighting the growing challenge facing regulated markets.
The ECA estimates that governments missed out on approximately €22.9 billion in tax revenue during 2025 as betting activity shifted toward unlicensed platforms.
Industry Calls for Stronger Cross-Border Action
Speaking at the event, ECA Chairman Erwin van Lambaart warned that illegal gambling has become a significant cross-border issue affecting consumer protection, public finances and confidence in regulated gambling. He said licensed operators invest heavily in responsible gambling measures, anti-money laundering controls and regulatory compliance, while offshore operators can reach European consumers without equivalent safeguards or oversight.
Van Lambaart urged closer cooperation between national regulators, law enforcement agencies and European institutions, arguing that coordinated enforcement is essential if authorities are to slow the growth of the illegal market.
Focus Turns to Europol and Future Enforcement
The roundtable, hosted by MEP Lukas Mandl, brought together EU lawmakers, regulators, the European Commission, Europol, the Anti-Money Laundering Authority (AMLA) and industry representatives to discuss ways of strengthening enforcement against illegal operators.
Mandl described illegal online gambling as a cross-border threat linked to consumer protection, organised crime and the integrity of the EU’s internal market. He said the findings would help inform future parliamentary discussions, particularly as the European Commission considers reforms to Europol’s mandate aimed at improving cooperation against cross-border criminal activity.
The latest figures shed more light on the growing concern that enforcement efforts will need to accelerate if regulated gambling markets are to compete effectively with an increasingly sophisticated offshore sector. How different jurisdictions will handle it remains to be seen.
