EU illegal online gambling reportedly hit €91.6 billion in 2025
Illegal online gambling aimed at consumers residing within the EU reached €91.6 billion in 2025, stated the European Casino Association (ECA), citing a study it had commissioned, and which was carried out by Gambling Compliance International (GCI).
While hosting a roundtable in the European Parliament with the theme of tackling illegal online gambling, the ECA presented the figures, which showed that the figures for illegal gambling in the EU had risen by around 14 per cent since 2024, up from €80 billion to the aforementioned €91.6 billion.
The ECA noted that this rise in illegal gambling “deprived EU member states of an estimated €22.9 billion in tax revenue”.
Roundtable on EU illegal online gambling
The roundtable, which was hosted by Austrian Member of the European Parliament (MEP) Lukas Mandl, brought together a wide range of individuals who have an important role to play in the efforts against illegal gambling. Those present at the roundtable included EU lawmakers, the Anti-Money Laundering Authority, Eurojust, and the Joint Parliamentary Scrutiny Group on Europol, along with national gambling regulators and other industry experts.
After ECA Chair Erwin van Laambert presented the 2025 figures from the GCI study, participants discussed the growing scale of illegal online gambling and how it is currently tackled, focusing on what can be done at the European level in order to better combat illegal gambling.
The ECA said that the roundtable participants acknowledged the growing scale of the problem and called for stronger enforcement as well as closer cooperation in order to achieve and support a safe, well-regulated gambling environment.
It noted that the discussion is “timely”, as it came about shortly after the European Commission had proposed to reform Europol’s mandate, which the ECA described as “a key institution in the fight against cross-border crime, including illegal gambling”.
Focusing in on the 2025 figures from GCI’s study, the ECA said the figures show that illegal operators now account for the majority of online gambling revenue in the 27 EU member states.
It commented that there are more than 6,200 illegal operators actively targeting European consumers, and continued that “the overwhelming majority of online gambling content Europeans are exposed to promotes illegal, unlicensed operators”.
Calls for greater cooperation in Europe and a push against illegal gambling operators
“The 2025 data from the GCI report leaves no room for doubt,” remarked van Lambaart. “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.”
Van Lambaart said that while licensed casinos and their online businesses operate under strict rules, illegal operators, “often based outside the EU,” reach European consumers while disregarding safeguards and operating without oversight and without making any contributions to responsible gambling or anti-money laundering efforts.
“This is why we need strong political will and strengthened public-private cooperation that is aligned with this reality,” he commented. “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.”
The ECA Chair concluded that if the industry fails to act now, then the illegal online market will only continue to grow at the expense of players, public finances, and legitimate businesses.
MEP Mandl echoed the sentiment, remarking that “illegal gambling is not a niche issue”. He said that illegal gambling is “a serious cross-border threat” which relates to matters of consumer protection, organised crime, and internal market integrity.
Mandl said that the figures presented by the ECA show a need for greater cooperation, as he added that he will encourage his colleagues to 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”.
Stay in the loop and join the biggest iGaming Community in the world with SiGMA’s Top 10 news countdown. Subscribe HERE for weekly updates from the world’s iGaming authority and exclusive subscriber-only offers.
