Unregulated Operators Hold 72% of EU Online Gambling Market, Study Finds

Unregulated online gambling operators captured 72 percent of the European Union's online gambling market in 2025, according to a report by Gaming Compliance International (GCI).

The firm estimates unregulated operators generated approximately 91.6 billion euros in gross gaming revenue (GGR) from EU players last year, out of a total regional online market valued at 128 billion euros. Revenue from the unregulated segment has grown 74 percent since 2023, according to the report.

GCI estimates that EU governments may have lost around 22 billion euros in tax revenue as a result.

Nearly 6,300 Unregulated Operators Identified Across the Bloc

The analysis identified 6,238 unregulated operators and 17,501 affiliates targeting European audiences. GCI found that online gambling content reached 121 million people across Europe in 2025, of whom 88 million encountered content from unregulated operators.

Advertising for unregulated operators was found across all 27 EU member states, appearing on social media, search engines, mobile apps, affiliate websites and illegal sports broadcasts, according to the report.

GCI called on regulators to expand oversight beyond the operators' websites themselves to cover the broader infrastructure that supports player acquisition and sustains the unregulated market.