The global illegal online gambling market generated approximately $50 billion in gross revenue throughout 2025, according to a report from Fincord Intelligence.
The findings were highlighted by the Betting and Gaming Council, which used them to call for stronger government action against unlicensed operators worldwide.
Fincord estimated that around 5,000 operator structures used more than 15,000 websites and apps to reach consumers during 2025 alone.
Unlicensed operators are deploying cryptocurrency, digital marketing and mirror sites to evade enforcement efforts by regulators across multiple jurisdictions.
The use of mirror domains, VPN access and browser-based applications allows blocked services to return online quickly after being shut down by authorities.
Researchers specifically flagged that some illegal operators are deliberately targeting users who have self-excluded through official responsible gambling routes.
A prominent example cited in the report involves sites operating as so-called Non-GamStop casinos, which actively promote their services to people who have excluded themselves through GAMSTOP in the UK.
These unlicensed sites also commonly offer no identity checks, no financial checks and no betting limits, stripping consumers of basic protections available in the regulated market.
Consumers are being reached through search engines, social media platforms, affiliate networks, influencers and messaging services including Telegram and WhatsApp.
BGC CEO Grainne Hurst responded to the findings by arguing that governments must do significantly more to confront the growing illegal online gambling sector.
Hurst described the Non-GamStop casino example as clear proof of the serious risks that unlicensed operators pose to consumers across the United Kingdom.
“This report shows illegal gambling is no longer simply a regulatory issue,” Hurst said. “Illegal operators are deliberately targeting vulnerable customers in the UK, including people who have self-excluded, using social media, affiliates and messaging platforms to avoid the protections of the regulated market.”
The BGC’s position is that the scale and sophistication of illegal gambling operations now demands a coordinated response from governments, regulators and platform providers alike.
