What counts as illegal online gambling?

Illegal online gambling refers to gambling services offered to residents of a jurisdiction without a proper licence issued by the relevant regulatory authority. This includes operators based abroad who intentionally target users in regulated markets without permission

Why is cross-border cooperation necessary?

Because the internet is global, illicit operators can easily shift operations across borders to avoid detection. Coordinated cooperation allows regulators to share intelligence, track operators across jurisdictions, and enforce bans more effectively

Can regulators track how many people use illegal gambling websites?

Currently, tracking is difficult. Regulators use surveys, web analytics, and financial data, but each method has limitations. Self-reported data is often unreliable, and digital footprints may not give a full picture of spending or user behaviour

What can consumers do to protect themselves?

Consumers should use only licensed gambling platforms and verify operator credentials with their national gambling regulator. They should avoid offers from unfamiliar or overseas operators, especially those heavily advertised on social media or via unsolicited promos

European Regulators Call for Stronger Measures Against Illegal Online Gambling

Key Takeaways
The UK gaming Commission (UKGC) and six other European authorities have all signed a unified statement urging for stronger, more coordinated actions to fight the growing threat of unregulated internet gaming. Regulators say that unlawful businesses take advantage of the fact that the internet has no borders, which puts consumers, especially minors and vulnerable people, at risk. They stress working together to share information, putting pressure on digital platforms to get rid of illegal ads, and coordinating enforcement to keep both the public and legal operators safe.

A United Front Against Gambling that isn't Lawful

On November 25, 2025, regulators from Austria, France, Germany, Great Britain, Italy, Portugal, and Spain all said they were committed to working together to make the fight against illicit internet gaming stronger. In their joint statement, they stressed that "the borderless nature and the speed of technological innovation" made it quite simple for illegal businesses to avoid scrutiny.

The statement said that "illegal gambling undermines the entire regulatory framework designed to protect the public interest."

Risks to People, Markets, and Public Health

Regulators pointed out that there are more and more ads from unauthorised operators on digital channels like social media, video-sharing sites, and affiliate networks. This kind of extensive advertising is against the law in many countries and puts users, especially minors and vulnerable people, at a lot of risk.
Illegal gaming is bad for more than just the people who are involved. It hurts the regulated market, puts legitimate operators at risk, and makes it harder to keep an eye on and reduce gambling-related harm.

What Regulators Want

To deal with these problems, the regulators suggested a number of specific steps:

Better sharing of information across jurisdictions to help find and keep track of unauthorised operators,
A request for digital platforms and social media networks to make their restrictions stronger so that ads from illegal gambling sites can't easily reach users,
Coordinated enforcement efforts between countries, which include looking into and punishing illegal operations, as well as sharing best practices for regulatory action.

This joint strategy shows that European governments are starting to realise that their own efforts are not enough in a market that is becoming more global and digital.

Why It's Still Hard to Measure the Illegal Market

Even if there are more and more worries, regulators confess they still don't know how widespread illicit online gambling really is. The UKGC said in a recent report that ways to guess the size of the unlicensed market were "seriously flawed" since self-reported survey data isn't very reliable and there isn't enough evidence from other methods.

That being said, the regulator is still committed to improving how it collects and analyses data, which is considered as essential for making good policy and enforcement plans.

What this Means for Operators, Users, and Regulators

For legal gaming businesses, the intensified attention on illegal gambling and plans for cross-border enforcement may help level the playing field and strengthen compliance duties. Stronger rules are meant to protect consumers from unregulated platforms that might not follow responsible gaming or safety rules. But for these efforts to work, digital platforms will need to work together and enforcement will need to be uniform across borders.

Strengthening Cross-Border Cooperation

The UKGC and its European colleagues' united statement shows that they are stepping up their efforts to stop unlawful internet gaming. Regulators want to close the gaps that unlicensed operators use by exchanging information across borders, putting pressure on digital platforms, and working together to enforce the law. However, real change can only happen if regulators, platforms, and governments keep working together and putting in the time and money needed.

The fight against illegal digital gambling and the dangers it poses to people and society remains a high concern as digital gambling continues to change.