🪗 EU🇪🇺: gross gaming revenue from unregulated gambling exceeded EUR 90 billion in 2025

🪗 EU🇪🇺: gross gaming revenue from unregulated gambling exceeded EUR 90 billion in 2025

A study conducted by Gaming Compliance International (GCI) at the request of Campaign for Fairer Gambling estimates that the unregulated segment accounted for nearly three-quarters of the European gambling market in 2025.

📌 Figures: the European gambling market reached approximately EUR 128 billion, of which EUR 91.6 billion came from unregulated gambling across the 27 EU countries. GGR from the unregulated segment increased by 74% compared with 2023, when it stood at EUR 52.6 billion. Unregulated online gambling accounted for 72% of GGR in 2025, up from 67% two years earlier.

📌 (Additional context: another report, prepared by Regulus Partners and Helios at the request of Euromat, reports that the average annual growth rate of the illegal online gambling market between 2019 and 2026 was 18%, and that by the end of the year this growth will reach a volume of EUR 13 billion. Approximately 64% of traffic in the illegal market comes from the 25 largest operators, while the report identifies taxes, bans and restrictions as factors contributing to the expansion of the illegal market.)

📌 Taxes: in 2025, EU countries missed out on approximately EUR 22 billion in tax revenue linked to unregulated gambling GGR.

📌 Market participants: the authors counted 6,238 unregulated operators targeting EU customers and 17,501 affiliate partners.

📌 Audience: 121 million EU residents were exposed to online gambling-related content, of whom 88 million encountered content from unregulated operators. Among users who actively interacted with this type of content, 91% were exposed to advertising for unregulated gambling.

🍒 Related development: unregulated gambling is also promoted through an unregulated network of pirated sports broadcasts. During the 2026 FIFA World Cup ⚽️, 95% of illegal broadcasts contained advertising for unregulated gambling and betting operators. The report identifies restrictions, broadcasting rights agreements and subscription models as key factors.

There is also a direct relationship between the two markets: unregulated operators offer users the opportunity to bet on the same sporting events they are watching through illegal streaming channels. In return, streaming platforms receive between 25% and 50% of net revenue.

📌 What should be done❓ The report's authors propose measures including strengthening cross-border cooperation, expanding monitoring mechanisms and ensuring greater compliance with existing rules.

#news #Europe #gambling #betting

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