Illegal Online Gambling Handle Reached €5.1 Trillion in 2025

Unregulated online gambling generated an estimated €5.1 trillion in total wagers during 2025, according to a new report from Gaming Compliance International.

The figure increased by 4% compared with 2024. However, it represents betting handle, not the money kept by gambling companies. Handle covers every wager placed, including money that may be used several times.

The real gross gaming revenue of illegal operators is therefore much lower, although it could still reach hundreds of billions of euros.

GCI estimates that unregulated platforms now account for 78% of global online gambling revenue. Licensed operators represent only 22% of the market. GCI CEO Matt Holt warned:

Regulators are not dealing with a small problem because most online gambling activity now takes place outside the regulated market.

The report also identified a third group called unacknowledged gambling. This includes prediction markets and sweepstakes platforms that use gambling-style features but may not be legally classified as gambling.

GCI calls this mixed environment the White Noise Marketplace. Licensed brands, offshore casinos and gambling-like services can appear together online, making it difficult for users to see the difference. GCI president Ismail Vali explained:

Consumers see one market where every platform is easy to access and competes for the same attention.

The report argues that this confusion is helping illegal gambling grow while making regulation more difficult. It also warns that users may not understand which platforms offer legal protection, safer gambling tools or proper control of customer funds.