EGBA urges EU for unified strategy against illegal betting sites
The European Gaming and Betting Association (EGBA) has filed a formal complaint with the European Commission to request coordinated intervention against the proliferation of fraudulent gambling platforms. As part of the consultations for the future EU Action Plan to Combat Online Fraud, the association has submitted documentary evidence detailing how networks of fraudsters are using the reputation of legitimate brands to deceive users. The entity argues that individual efforts by each member country are proving insufficient against a threat that operates across borders and with an alarming capacity for technological regeneration.
The documentation provided by EGBA reveals a highly sophisticated ecosystem of deception that includes the creation of web domains that almost perfectly mimic the addresses of licensed operators. These tactics extend to the distribution of illegal applications in official stores such as Google Play and Apple App Store, in addition to aggressive phishing campaigns and misleading advertising on social media. In many cases, fraudsters disguise real betting products as simple recreational games hosted on servers outside the community's jurisdiction, thus evading initial controls by advertising platforms.
Critical risks to the security of European citizens
The association's main concern lies in the absolute lack of protection to which players are exposed. By interacting with these pirate sites, users not only face the direct loss of their money but also identity theft and banking data theft. Furthermore, these environments lack responsible gambling tools, such as self-exclusion systems, which are mandatory for regulated operators in Europe. According to EGBA, current monitoring is ineffective because, even if a fraudulent domain is taken down, it usually reappears under a new digital identity within hours.
Dr. Ekaterina Hartmann, EGBA's Director of Legal and Regulatory Affairs, has been emphatic in pointing out that fraudsters are exploiting the trust that citizens have placed in the regulated market. Hartmann insists that the fragmentation of national regulations leaves legitimate operators at a clear competitive and operational disadvantage. For the director, the only viable solution is a community-wide approach that allows for a quick and joint response, preventing criminals from finding refuge in the legal cracks between different member states.
An economic drain of 18 billion euros
The figures handled by the industry reflect the magnitude of the challenge. It is estimated that, during 2025, illegal operators captured 27 percent of the total online gambling market in Europe, representing gross revenues close to 18 billion euros. Much of this business volume comes from offshore companies that openly lie about their regulatory status, claiming to possess European licenses that have never been granted to them. These platforms not only evade taxes but also reinvest their profits in improving their identity spoofing techniques.
The next decisive step is expected in the second quarter of 2026, when the European Commission should formally adopt its Action Plan against Online Fraud. EGBA is confident that this initiative will include much more agile cross-border cooperation mechanisms than the current ones. Meanwhile, the industry continues to warn about the need for consumers to meticulously verify the authenticity of applications and sites before making any deposit, given an illegal market that seems to have no ceiling in its digital expansion.
Tags: Europe, EGBA, European Gaming and Betting Association (EGBA)