Europe's big blind is the gambling industry's bluff
10 April 2025
When you think of gambling, you might picture a glitzy Las Vegas casino. But traditional gambling is being overtaken by its far more accessible, multibillion-euro, online counterpart.
The 24/7 betting on smartphones has made gambling more addictive than ever. Since 2018, online operators in the EU have more than tripled their revenues, yet an estimated 20% to 70% of that betting is illegal.
Investigate Europe revealed how hundreds of blacklisted and unlicensed sites operate across Europe, pulling in millions of users. Most are traced to Malta, Cyprus, and Curaçao, which offer cheap licenses and low taxes. These sites are hard to shut down: hidden owners, offshore protections, and constantly changing URLs keep them alive.
EU courts have ordered user refunds, but payouts rarely ever arrive. Malta, whose economy heavily relies on gambling, refuses to enforce foreign rulings, likely in breach of EU law. Meanwhile, two-thirds of top-league football teams in the EU and UK have betting sponsors, some unlicensed. Many clubs would face bankruptcy without the gambling industry.
 | Toyah Höher The social cost is steep. Gambling is addictive and can ruin people's lives, from losing houses and pensions to divorce and even suicide. As a former gambling CEO told Investigate Europe: "The industry does not want European regulation. Governments are as addicted to tax revenue as the addicts are to online slots." Until the EU steps in, the gambling industry continues to profit off of addiction, and the house keeps winning. |
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