Unregulated gambling market in EU reaches 91.6 billion euros

A report by Gaming Compliance International (GCI) for the Campaign for Fairer Gambling (CFG) reveals that the unregulated online gambling market in the European Union has reached 91.6 billion euros, accounting for 72% of the total gross gaming revenue (GGR) in the EU-27. The legal market currently holds only 36.5 billion euros.

Between 2023 and 2025, the unregulated sector experienced a 74% increase, growing from 52.6 billion to 91.6 billion euros. This shift has resulted in an estimated annual tax revenue loss of 22 billion euros for European treasuries.

Regional disparities are significant: while Western Europe holds the largest market share by volume at 36.9 billion euros, Eastern Europe is the epicenter of the shadow market, with 81% of its sector being unregulated. Within the online casino segment, unregulated operators control 75% of the market, while they hold 59% of the sports betting turnover. Additionally, the report notes that 91% of gambling content accessible to EU users promotes the black market.