EU Faces €22.9bn Tax Loss From Illegal Gambling
Illegal online gambling cost EU member states an estimated €22.9 billion in lost tax revenue during 2025, according to data presented by the European Casino Association.
The figures were discussed at a European Parliament roundtable held on July 3, 2026. The event brought together EU officials, national regulators, law enforcement representatives and gambling industry experts.
Research commissioned from Gambling Compliance International estimated that the illegal online gambling market targeting EU consumers reached €91.6 billion in 2025. This was around 14% higher than in 2024.
The study also identified more than 6,200 unlicensed operators targeting players across the EU. According to the ECA, these companies do not follow national licensing rules, contribute local gambling taxes or provide the same consumer protection measures as regulated operators.
Lukas Mandl, Member of the European Parliament, commented:
Illegal online gambling is not a niche issue, it is a serious cross-border threat that touches on consumer protection, organised crime and the integrity of our internal market.
ECA chair Erwin van Lambaart warned:
Illegal online gambling is a fast-growing, cross-border problem that puts players, especially young adults, at high risk.
The roundtable followed a European Commission proposal published on June 24, 2026, to expand Europol’s powers against cross-border crime.
The ECA called for closer cooperation between Europol, the European Commission, the Anti-Money Laundering Authority and national gambling regulators.
