The EGBA warns: the black market is booming

Europe is facing a rapid rise in illegal gambling, a phenomenon the EGBA considers increasingly worrying. The organisation believes that certain public policies are, paradoxically, helping to strengthen the black market. 

A rise in activity that worries the EGBA

The EGBA is sounding the alarm: the illegal gambling market is growing rapidly in Europe. Behind this expansion, the organisation identifies structural flaws in current public policies.

According to the data cited, illegal operators already accounted for 27% of the sector’s revenue in 2025, amounting to approximately €18 billion. This figure is rising sharply and could reach €23 billion by 2030. For the EGBA, this trend is no accident, but the direct consequence of regulatory choices.

“Monopolies, restrictions imposed on certain entertainment products, spending caps and advertising bans have a combined effect that is often detrimental: consumers are driven towards illegal platforms that offer no form of protection. While illegal gambling exists in all its forms, it is the black market in the online sector that is growing the fastest and has the most serious consequences,” the organisation emphasises. 

National markets that confirm the diagnosis

The EGBA draws on several examples to illustrate its analysis. In the Netherlands, the introduction of strict spending limits has weakened the competitiveness of legal operators. The illegal market is now estimated to account for more than half of total spending, amounting to around €1.25 billion per year.

In France, the ban on online casinos has not eliminated demand. It has simply shifted it to clandestine platforms, estimated to be worth nearly €1.5 billion annually.

In Belgium, BAGO estimates that two-thirds of gambling traffic is illegal.

“Overly restrictive regulation has had exactly the opposite effect.”

Illegal operators have the upper hand

The organisation highlights the imbalance between legal and illegal operators. Illegal platforms, often based outside the European Union, evade tax and regulatory obligations. This enables them to offer more attractive deals, with high bonuses and favourable terms. 

According to the EGBA, the online sector is the hardest hit. Illegal operators are establishing a massive presence there, particularly via social media, search engines and sports sponsorship. Whilst legal operators are subject to strict advertising restrictions, illegal operators enjoy virtually unrestricted visibility.

Current methods of combating illegal sites are no longer adequate. Blocking sites or payments remains easy to circumvent.

“A site can disappear and reappear in an almost identical form within a matter of days.”

Towards a coordinated response in Europe

In light of this, the EGBA is calling for enhanced cooperation between European states. Information sharing, harmonisation of practices and the involvement of financial stakeholders are highlighted as essential.

The organisation also emphasises the role of legal operators, who possess valuable information on black market strategies.

The fight against the black market depends above all on a competitive legal market.

“The most effective weapon is not blocking, but an offering that consumers actually want to use.”

Finally, the EGBA stresses the need to raise awareness. Many players use illegal platforms without realising the risks involved. No recourse, lack of data protection, no age verification: the dangers are manifold.

The Belgian example as a model

Among the positive initiatives, the EGBA cites the Belgian Always Play Legally campaign. This scheme enables consumers to easily identify authorised sites thanks to a clear label. This campaign illustrates the type of action the EGBA would like to see developed at a European level.

Ultimately, the EGBA makes an unambiguous point: the fight against the black market cannot rely solely on bans. It requires a comprehensive approach, based on the reality of consumer behaviour.