The EU's unlicensed gambling market is set to grow by 10% in 2025, surpassing €90 billion.

In 2025, the illegal online gambling market in Europe has soared to over €90 billion, marking an impressive year-over-year growth of more than 10%. This unlicensed sector not only jeopardizes consumer safety but also leads to substantial financial losses for European Union member states.

Earlier this week, the European Parliament was presented with data from the European Casino Association and research by Gambling Compliance International. The discussion included input from a variety of stakeholders in the gambling industry, along with regulatory groups such as Europol and the European Commission. The data highlighted a concerning trend: while European countries missed out on nearly €23 billion in tax revenue in 2025, the unlicensed online gambling sector was growing. By 2025, this sector was valued at €91.6 million, indicating a 14% increase compared to the previous year. This illegal online gambling market's size is noteworthy, especially because it is more than three times larger than the GDP of small European nations like Malta, whose GRP was $27.8 billion in 2025.

The latest data highlights a troubling trend: a large number of unlicensed gambling operators are actively targeting customers all over Europe. In fact, over 6,200 of these operators are either attempting to engage or have already engaged customers in various countries across the continent. The European Casino Association has recognized that unlicensed online gambling has escalated from a minor issue to a significant problem. Users who engage with these illegal operators risk having their personal and financial information stolen. Moreover, these unlicensed companies do not comply with the gambling regulations set by EU member states, which means their players may be denied jackpots or bonuses. In some instances, users find their accounts permanently suspended without justification, with little recourse available because these operators are not bound by local laws. The scale and expansion of unlicensed gambling underscore the need for EU member states to collaborate more closely to tackle this growing issue.