TLDR
- The illegal online gambling market targeting EU consumers grew to €91.6 billion last year, up about 14% from the year before.
- The European Casino Association wants Europol to take on a bigger role in fighting unlicensed gambling operators.
- The illegal market cost EU member states roughly €22.9 billion in lost tax revenue.
- Over 6,200 unlicensed operators are actively targeting European customers, according to the report.
- The European Commission says the Digital Services Act already gives platforms tools to fight illegal gambling ads.
Europe’s licensed casino industry is asking Brussels to strengthen Europol’s role in fighting illegal online gambling. The push follows new research showing the black market aimed at EU consumers grew to €91.6 billion last year.
The European Casino Association shared the findings during a roundtable at the European Parliament. The report shows the illegal market grew by about 14% compared to the previous year.
The timing lines up with ongoing EU reform talks. The European Commission has proposed changes that would expand Europol’s powers and improve its ability to share data across borders.
The casino association wants illegal online gambling added as a clear priority within that expanded mandate.
Industry Says Enforcement Can’t Keep Up
Erwin van Lambaart, who chairs the European Casino Association, said national authorities are struggling to control operators that target customers across many EU countries at once.
He said these operators often stay outside the reach of local regulators entirely.
Van Lambaart argued that better coordination between Europol, the European Commission, the Anti-Money Laundering Authority, financial intelligence units, and national police would help turn information into real enforcement action.
Without that cooperation, he said illegal operators will keep growing while licensed businesses, tax revenue, and player protections suffer.
The report was prepared by Gambling Compliance International. It found that illegal gambling cost EU countries around €22.9 billion in tax revenue.
More than 6,200 unlicensed operators are actively targeting European consumers, the report states.
It also found that illegal websites now generate most of the online gambling revenue across the EU’s 27 member states.
Van Lambaart said licensed casinos spend heavily on responsible gambling programs and anti-money laundering controls. He said many illegal operators, often based outside the EU, avoid these requirements while staying easy to access online.
Lawmakers Signal Support for Closer Cooperation
The parliamentary discussion was hosted by MEP Lukas Mandl. It brought together people from the European Commission, Europol, the Anti-Money Laundering Authority, Eurojust, national regulators, and industry experts.
Mandl called illegal online gambling a cross-border problem. He said it affects consumer protection, organized crime, and the health of the EU’s internal market.
He said he supports giving Europol enough resources and authority to help member states respond more effectively.
The talks were held under the Chatham House Rule, so comments were not linked to specific speakers.
Attention is also turning to how illegal gambling ads spread through social media. Industry groups say platforms like YouTube and Twitch have been used to promote unlicensed sites.
The European Commission says current law already covers this. Responding to questions from MEP Sabine Verheyen last month, Executive Vice-President Henna Virkkunen pointed to the Digital Services Act as the main tool for the job.
She said the law already requires platforms to let users report illegal content. Large platforms and search engines must also assess and reduce the spread of unlawful material, including gambling ads.
The exchange followed earlier research showing that 71% of online gambling activity aimed at European users happens through unlicensed websites.
