A New Report Reveals the Scale and Growth of Illegal Online Gambling

by Roy Brindley, 24 November 2025

A European Casino Association commissioned report on illegal online gambling uncovers an annual €20 billion EU tax revenue loss.

“Illegal online gambling is not a marginal issue; it is an economic and societal threat,” says the chairman of ECA. © Getty Images

Key Facts:

• New study reveals alarming growth in illegal online gambling across Europe.
• 71% of the EU’s online gambling market belongs to illegal operators.
• Unlicensed operators diverted an estimated €20 billion in tax revenue in 2024.
• The issue is described as an “economic and societal threat.”

A new study commissioned by the European Casino Association (ECA) and carried out by Yield Sec – a global intelligence platform that monitors the entire online gambling market – has revealed alarming growth in illegal online gambling across Europe.

According to the report, illegal operators now make up 71% of the EU’s online gambling market, generating an estimated €80.6 billion in gross gaming revenue. This figure is more than double that of the regulated market. It totals €33.6 billion.

The new study identified more than 6,200 illegal gambling operators that actively target EU consumers, exposing or engaging approximately 81 million Europeans. These Illegal operators “routinely impersonate licensed casinos by using their logos and imagery, misleading consumers and damaging the reputation of regulated businesses,” says the ECA.

“Operating without safeguards, responsible gaming rules, or tax obligations, these platforms lure players through fake bonuses, unrestricted betting limits, and anonymous payments,” the organisation said in a statement.

Based on an assumed EU-wide online gaming tax rate of 25%, Yield Sec estimates that illegal operators diverted over €20 billion in tax revenue from European economies in 2024.

The European Casino Association says these funds should have “served to support the EU in boosting the competitiveness of its industries, the skilling of its workforce or investing in research and innovation.”

Integrity to Battle an Economic and Societal Threat

Commenting on the figures, Erwin van Lambaart, Chairman of the European Casino Association, said: “These findings confirm what the ECA has warned about for years: illegal online gambling is not a marginal issue; it is an economic and societal threat.”

“Every euro lost to criminal operators is a euro stolen from European citizens, from legitimate and licenced businesses, and from our communities,” commented van Lambaart, who was formerly the CEO of Holland Casino.

“We remain committed to working with European and national authorities to protect consumers, tackle such criminal activities, uphold our industry’s integrity, and ensure that the benefits of a well-regulated industry are not undermined by illegal operators.”

Domestically, the UK Gambling Commission’s CEO, Andrew Rhodes, recently highlighted his organisation’s hardline stance on gambling’s black market. Addressing a conference in Canada, he declared the UKGC had blocked “nearly 100,000” websites and was “tracking over 1,000 illegal operators.”