6 December 2025
Illegal online gambling now dominates Europe’s digital betting landscape, with unlicensed operators capturing 71 percent of the market and diverting an estimated €20 billion in annual tax revenue. Regulators warn the surge poses economic and consumer-protection risks, calling for coordinated EU-wide action to combat criminal gambling activity.
Several major gambling regions have posted results far above their projected ranges in recent months. Italy continued rising despite softer sports betting. Brazil accelerated before regulation settled. Argentina stayed stable through economic pressure. Key US states hit new iCasino highs. Data from operators and regulators shows users playing in ways the early models did not anticipate.
Studios are still getting games out, but the work behind each launch has become far more tangled. Plans slip for reasons that didn’t matter a few years ago, and operator discussions often reshape schedules in ways that teams can’t anticipate. Compliance also reaches into more corners of production than before. The market itself is healthy, just uneven in how it rewards the effort
Spain is leading Europe’s illegal gambling crackdown, blocking operators, issuing multimillion-euro fines and coordinating cross-border action with regulators.
Visa, Mastercard, and leading PSPs are quietly tightening their stance on gambling, driven by higher risk scores, tougher AML expectations, and shrinking tolerance from correspondent banks. While cards retreat, digital wallets are expanding rapidly. This piece explores the underlying factors shaping the shift and what operators should do to stay ahead.
Germany is accelerating changes to its Interstate Treaty on Gambling, citing weak enforcement, stalled licensing and rapid offshore growth. State officials want earlier reform to address consumer risks and market imbalance, signaling a rare political consensus that the current framework no longer reflects how players gamble or how operators compete.
Estonia is emerging as one of Europe’s most attractive online gambling licences as operators seek stability in a tightening regulatory climate. With low volatility, digital-first oversight and strong EU alignment, the market is drawing growing interest, even as high capital requirements and strict compliance standards keep it a selective, reputation-driven option.
A wave of lawsuits is challenging sportsbook VIP programs and “risk-free” promotions, accusing operators of using personalized incentives that encourage continued betting even when players show signs of harm. The cases raise fundamental questions about how modern sportsbooks retain customers, and whether their most profitable systems cross legal and ethical lines.
The Netherlands triggered one of Europe’s toughest gambling visibility crackdowns, banning sponsorships and most untargeted advertising. The shift has become a blueprint for neighboring regulators who view the Dutch model as a test of how far visibility rules can go. Now the central question is whether other major markets will follow.
Ireland is preparing to launch its first dedicated gambling regulator, introducing strict licensing, advertising rules and new safeguards under the Gambling Regulation Act 2024. As the system takes shape, offshore casino operators are expanding activity in the regulatory gap, setting up a pivotal transition year as Ireland shifts toward modern oversight.
Missouri is preparing to launch legal sports betting in December, while Minnesota is intensifying action against offshore gambling sites. The two states now illustrate sharply different paths in the national betting debate, with one expanding regulated markets and the other relying on enforcement as lawmakers struggle to agree on a legal framework.
A confidential dossier accusing Evolution of operating in unregulated markets has sparked one of the most contentious feuds in gambling tech. The allegations, which Playtech denies any link to, have raised questions about reputation, regulatory trust and market influence as two of the industry’s biggest suppliers navigate mounting scrutiny.
