Unlicensed Operators Control Most of EU Online Gaming

A new report has pulled back the curtain on Europe’s gambling industry, and the numbers tell a troubling story. Illegal platforms are not just competing with licensed operators — they’re leading the game by a wide margin.

Good to know

• Unlicensed operators controlled 71% of Europe’s online gambling market in 2024.
• EU governments lost an estimated €20 billion in tax revenue last year.
• More than 81 million Europeans engaged with illegal platforms in 2024.

According to Yield Sec’s EU 27 Europe: Online Gambling Marketplace 2024 study, unregulated companies pulled in €80.6 billion of gross gaming yield (GGY) out of a total €114.3 billion across the 27 EU nations. Licensed firms, bound by compliance and tax rules, brought in just €33.6 billion.

That imbalance shows just how quickly the black market has grown. Yield Sec compared the situation to a “Jenga tower,” warning that stricter limits on regulated firms only make their illegal rivals more attractive to consumers.

A Crisis for Governments and Consumers

The financial consequences are heavy. EU states collectively lost €20 billion in tax revenue in 2024 alone, money that would normally go to public services. But the bigger concern might be consumer protection.

The report found that 92% of all gambling-related content viewed online in Europe last year came from unlicensed sources. That visibility translated into huge engagement, with 81 million people — nearly one in five EU citizens — using illegal gambling sites.

Major sporting events such as the European Championships and the Olympic Games gave black-market operators a perfect stage. Many offered sky-high bonuses far beyond legal limits, and some even streamed games illegally to attract bettors.

Unlicensed sites also leaned heavily on newer technologies and channels. Cryptocurrency betting, prediction markets, and aggressive campaigns on TikTok, Twitch, and Instagram helped them expand. Some even went as far as using deepfakes, fake celebrity endorsements, bank logos, and national flags to trick players into trusting them.

Yield Sec says the only way to counter the trend is through a united effort. Governments, regulators, and licensed operators need stronger tools to track illegal networks, more active monitoring, and clear enforcement measures to protect consumers and restore balance in the market.

The post Unlicensed Operators Control Most of EU Online Gaming appeared first on iGaming.org.