Illegal gambling: Europe loses 23 billion
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7 Aug 2026 •
Reading time: 3 minutes
According to an annual study by Gaming Compliance International carried out for the European Casino Association, Member States are estimated to have lost nearly 23 billion euros in tax revenue in 2025, whilst turnover in the illegal sector is estimated to have reached 91.6 billion euros.
Illegal market up 14 per cent in one year
The growth recorded in 2025 is particularly marked. According to data cited by BAGO, the unregulated online gambling market grew by 14 per cent in one year.
Its total turnover is thus estimated at 91.6 billion euros. At the same time, this activity is estimated to have deprived European Member States of nearly 23 billion euros in tax revenue.
The study’s findings were presented at a round-table discussion held at the European Parliament. Representatives from the European Commission, Europol, Eurojust, the European Anti-Money Laundering Authority and national gambling regulatory authorities took part in the discussions.
More than 6,200 illegal operators are reportedly targeting Europeans
According to the study, more than 6,200 illegal operators are actively targeting European consumers. Together, they are now believed to account for the majority of online gambling revenue in the European Union.
Their ability to reach players has also increased. Researchers have identified several channels through which these operators reach consumers, including social media, search engines and illegal streaming platforms.
Payments in cryptocurrencies also facilitate their activities, whilst these operators remain outside the scope of European oversight.
Players without the safeguards of the regulated market
For BAGO, which represents licensed gambling operators in Belgium, the consequences are not limited to lost tax revenue. The association also emphasises the risks to which consumers may be exposed when using illegal sites.
“Players who gamble on an illegal site have no protection whatsoever. There are no age checks, no responsible gambling measures, no guarantees regarding payments and no effective protection against fraud or money laundering. Furthermore, not a single euro of tax revenue goes to the public purse,” says Tom De Clercq, president of BAGO.
Europe seeks a cross-border solution
The international nature of illegal activities makes them difficult to control. At the meeting held at the European Parliament, several participants therefore called for closer cooperation between Member States, Europol and other European institutions.
BAGO believes that traditional monitoring mechanisms are proving inadequate in the face of digital operators capable of reaching European consumers rapidly.
The growth of the illegal market is not unique to Europe. Gaming Compliance International estimates that the global market for illegal gambling reached 5,900 billion dollars in 2025.
BAGO calls for faster blocking measures
In Belgium, gambling policy still needs to be modernised. BAGO believes that this development presents an opportunity to make the fight against illegal operators a top priority.
“The fight against illegal gambling must become a top priority,” says Tom De Clercq. “We therefore need rapid blocking of illegal websites and payment flows, as well as closer cooperation between regulatory authorities, the police and the judiciary.”