GCI Report Shows Unregulated Online Gambling Holds 75 Percent of EU Market with EUR 91.6 Billion GGR

A study by Gaming Compliance International on behalf of the Campaign for Fairer Gambling finds that unregulated online gambling generated EUR 91.6 billion ($105.2 billion) in gross gambling revenue across the European Union in 2025. This represents almost 75 percent of the region’s EUR 128 billion ($146 billion) online gambling market.

The unregulated share rose from 67 percent of total online GGR in 2023, when it stood at EUR 52.6 billion ($60.4 billion). The 74 percent growth over two years produced an estimated EUR 22 billion ($25.3 billion) in lost tax revenue for EU member states. As reported by GamblingNews, the study also counted 6,238 unregulated online gambling operators and 17,501 affiliates actively targeting consumers in the bloc.

Scale of Consumer Exposure and Content Promotion

The report states that 121 million Europeans were exposed to online gambling content, 88 million of whom accessed it through unregulated operators. Among active interactions with such content, 91 percent promoted the unregulated sector. Illegal sports streaming amplified the reach. During the FIFA World Cup, 95 percent of qualifying illegal sports streams viewed in Europe carried advertising for operators unlicensed in the relevant jurisdictions.

These figures illustrate how unregulated activity operates through search, social media, affiliates, advertising, streaming services and apps before consumers even reach a gambling site. The data remain specific to the 27 EU member states and do not extend to enforcement outcomes or operator financials beyond the GGR and tax estimates provided.

Recommendations for Broader Enforcement

GCI called for enforcement that addresses the full ecosystem enabling unregulated operators rather than individual websites alone. The report urges optimized regulatory oversight, greater cross-border coordination and action against supporting infrastructure and services. Ismail Vali, GCI president, said European regulators need to measure and monitor the wider gambling ecosystem and enforce rules across the various platforms, services and infrastructure that support unregulated operators.

Derek Webb, founder of the Campaign for Fairer Gambling, argued that unregulated gambling operates across borders while enforcement remains largely national. He stressed that a licence in one jurisdiction does not grant permission to operate across Europe and that operators accepting money from consumers in a given jurisdiction must comply with its laws and consumer protections.

Reporting: GamblingNews

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