The illegal online gambling market is now one of the most worrying crises in Europe. Fuelled by the rapid growth of unregulated offshore platforms, this phenomenon goes far beyond the economic sphere, affecting consumer protection, the regulatory capacity of states and even the integrity of sport. Tom De Clercq, CEO of Napoleon Sports & Casino, analyses the situation.
Alarming growth in 2024
Recent data shows a dramatic shift. In 2024, illegal operators posted growth of 53%, significantly outperforming regulated players, which saw growth limited to 30%. The conclusion is stark: 71% of the European online gambling market now escapes the control of national authorities.
This overwhelming dominance marks a turning point. In a context where regulators are tightening requirements, a growing number of players are migrating to platforms that offer no guarantees, no transparency and no protection.
A legal market that is running out of steam in Belgium
Belgium perfectly illustrates this worrying trend. While licensed operators are trying to adapt to increasingly strict rules, visitor numbers are stagnating. The 155,000 active players per day observed over the last two years show a kind of plateau. Worse still, weekly visits to legal sites are falling from 614,000 in 2023 to 602,000 in 2024.
This inertia leaves the field open to illegal platforms, which take advantage of the slightest loophole. The gateway to the black market has never been easier to cross, especially for players excluded from the legal system.
Why is Europe losing ground?
The backlash against strict regulations
In several Western European countries, restrictions on advertising, bonuses and game design are aimed at limiting the risks of addiction. The intention is laudable, but the unexpected side effects are massive.
The most active players, who are sometimes at risk, are turning to offshore sites, where anything goes: aggressive bonuses, no deposit limits, enhanced anonymity. As a result, the protection tools, despite being strengthened, no longer protect those they are intended to protect.
The technological wave
The rise of crypto casinos and platforms using predictive betting systems has disrupted the market. Not only do these technologies attract young audiences, but they also make transactions more difficult to trace.
Some pirate platforms even exploit illegal sports streams, using the rise in sports subscription prices to attract new players. It’s a highly effective strategy.
The amplifying effect of major sporting events
The year 2024, marked by the Euro and the Olympic Games in Paris, has exerted an unprecedented attraction. Fans seeking quick access to more flexible betting have turned to offshore sites, which are taking advantage of these events to run aggressive campaigns.
The consequences: a weakened Europe
The shortfall is monumental: €7.2 billion in tax revenue evaporates each year due to the illegal market. This loss is all the more significant in a tense economic climate.
The situation in the Netherlands sums up the seriousness of the phenomenon. In the last quarter of 2024, the GGR of illegal casinos reached €305 million, exceeding that of legal operators (€298 million) for the first time. Channelling — the percentage of players attracted to regulated offers — thus fell to 49%, a critical threshold.
The figures are striking: in 2024, 81 million Europeans used unregulated gambling services. Among them, many players who were banned from gambling in their own countries found refuge on these unregulated platforms. The risk of addiction is rising, as are the psychological and financial damages.
The industry’s call: regulate differently
Organisations representing the sector, such as BAGO, EGBA and ECA, are issuing a joint warning. They argue that current policies focused on restrictions are missing the mark. They are calling for a different strategy:
- strengthening the fight against illegal sites,
- harmonising European policies,
- modernising legal offerings to make them truly competitive,
- simplifying access to regulated platforms without reducing protection.
How can players be won back?
The big question remains: how can a legal alternative be offered that is attractive enough to divert players from the underground market, while guaranteeing their safety?
Experts agree on one point: the battle can only be won if governments understand the new behaviours of players. Flexibility, speed and user experience now determine the choices of millions of internet users.
It is not a question of relaxing the rules at the expense of protection, but of building controlled environments capable of meeting the real expectations of the public.
The crisis of illegal gambling in Europe is no longer a vague threat: it is a massive, well-documented reality that is already deeply entrenched. The fight against this underground market can only be won through agile, modern and coordinated policy at European level.