EU’s unregulated online gambling market valued at €91.6 billion, with 72 % of revenue escaping national oversight
Executive summary: CFG reported that 72 % of online gambling revenue in the EU‑27, worth about €91.6 billion, operates outside national regulatory regimes. This regulatory gap represents a major loss of tax revenue for EU governments and raises concerns about money laundering, consumer protection, and unfair competition for licensed operators.
Who is involved: The analysis covers the 27 EU member states, the CFG research group, and implicates national gambling authorities, online gambling operators, and payment processors.
Likely next: EU policymakers are expected to discuss tighter enforcement measures, while member states may consider harmonising licensing rules and increasing cooperation to curb the unregulated sector.
A CFG analysis for the EU‑27 finds that 72 % of online gambling gross gaming revenue (GGR) occurs outside local regulatory frameworks, amounting to roughly €91.6 billion. The gap stems from uneven enforcement of gambling rules across member states, leaving a significant portion of the market untaxed and potentially exposed to illicit activity. The report highlights the scale of the regulatory challenge and suggests that closing the gap could boost state revenues and improve consumer protection.
What's next — scenarios
Base: Moderate enforcement reduces unregulated share to 60% by 2028 (50%)
EU tax revenues from online gambling rise by approximately €5 billion annually; operators face higher compliance costs.
- EU Commission issues 2027 gambling enforcement guidelines
- Member states adopt stricter licensing requirements
- Major payment processors block unregulated sites
Upside: Strong coordinated crackdown brings unregulated share below 30% (30%)
Tax revenues increase by more than €10 billion per year; illicit operators exit market; consumer trust rises.
- EU adopts binding Gambling Services Directive 2028
- Joint Europol‑FINCLA operation targets illegal operators
- Public opinion shifts after high‑profile fraud case
Downside: Enforcement remains fragmented, unregulated share grows to 80% (20%)
Tax gap widens, money‑laundering risks rise, legitimate operators lose market share to offshore sites.
- Member states delay transposition of EU gambling standards
- Legal challenges block new licensing rules
- Advertising restrictions loosen
Timeline
- — CFG: EUROPAS UNREGULIERTE GLÜCKSSPIELWIRTSCHAFT IM WERT VON 91,6 MILLIARDEN EURO (PR Newswire)
- — CFG: La economía del juego no regulado en Europa, valorada en 91.600 millones de euros (PR Newswire)
- — CFG : L'ÉCONOMIE EUROPÉENNE DES JEUX D'ARGENT NON RÉGLEMENTÉS ESTIMÉE À 91,6 MILLIARDS D'EUROS (PR Newswire)
- — CFG: Neregulovaný hazardní průmysl v Evropě v hodnotě 91,6 miliardy eur (PR Newswire)
Analysis — what this means
Sectors affected
- Online gambling operators
- EU national gambling regulators
- Payment processing services
Historical parallels
- UK Gambling Act 2005
Key entities
Sources
- CFG: EUROPAS UNREGULIERTE GLÜCKSSPIELWIRTSCHAFT IM WERT VON 91,6 MILLIARDEN EURO — PR Newswire
- CFG: La economía del juego no regulado en Europa, valorada en 91.600 millones de euros — PR Newswire
- CFG : L'ÉCONOMIE EUROPÉENNE DES JEUX D'ARGENT NON RÉGLEMENTÉS ESTIMÉE À 91,6 MILLIARDS D'EUROS — PR Newswire
- CFG: Neregulovaný hazardní průmysl v Evropě v hodnotě 91,6 miliardy eur — PR Newswire
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