A new study commissioned by the European Casino Association (Eca) and conducted by Yield Sec, a global intelligence platform monitoring the total online gambling marketplace, reveals alarming figures about the scale and growth of illegal online gambling in Europe in 2024.
The recent analysis shows that illegal online gambling operators now account for 71% of the European Union’s online gambling market, representing an estimated €80.6 billion in gross gaming revenue – more than double the legal market’s €33.6 billion.
The study identifies over 6,200 illegal gambling operators actively targeting Eu consumers online, with 81 million Europeans exposed to or interacting with illegal gambling services.
At an assumed Eu-wide online gaming tax rate of 25%, the Yield Sec monitoring and reporting estimates that illegal operators diverted more than €20 billion in tax revenue away from European economies in 2024 alone – funds that should have served to support the EU in boosting the competitiveness of its industries, the skilling of its workforce or investing in research and innovation.
Erwin van Lambaart, chairman of the European Casino Association, commented: “These findings confirm what the Eca has warned about for years: illegal online gambling is not a marginal issue; it is an economic and societal threat. Every euro lost to criminal operators is a euro stolen from European citizens, from legitimate and licenced businesses, and from our communities. As Eca, we remain committed to working with European and national authorities to protect consumers, tackle such criminal activities, uphold our industry’s integrity, and ensure that the benefits of a well-regulated industry are not undermined by illegal operators”.
Ismail Vali, founder & ceo of Yield Sec, commented: “Our approach to assessing the online gaming marketplace is unique because of our clear and rigorous methodology across all of the audience and their activity for measuring the true nature of online gambling: every jurisdiction features both a legal and illegal sector. For regulators and governments alike, having a comprehensive view of the entire marketplace, both legal and illegal, is essential to design and deliver efficient, targeted policies and interventions”.
Photo by John (Unsplash)
