European regulators form joint strategy against illegal online gambling

Seven national gambling authorities in Europe have agreed to expand coordinated action against illegal online gambling, citing increased cross-border activity and digital advertising that targets users across multiple jurisdictions.

Officials from Germany, Austria, France, Great Britain, Italy, Portugal, and Spain signed the cooperation arrangement at a meeting hosted by Spain’s Directorate General for Gambling Regulation (DGOJ) in Madrid on November 12, 2025.

Shared concerns on illegal platforms

Regulators said online gambling’s borderless nature enables unlicensed operators to move activity between countries and avoid oversight. Authorities raised concerns about exposure to unsafe products, lack of player protections, and potential impacts on public order.

A joint institutional statement from the seven regulators said: “Its borderless nature and the speed of technological innovation make it easier for illegal operators to evade regulatory oversight. This creates significant risks for consumer and public health protection, endangers public order, and harms the activity of legitimate operators. In short, illegal online gambling undermines the entire regulatory framework designed to protect the public interest.”

Officials also pointed to increasing volumes of unauthorised advertising across social media, video-sharing platforms, and affiliate sites. “These activities not only violate our national laws but also expose citizens — including minors and vulnerable individuals — to significant risks associated with illegal gambling,” the statement noted.

Cooperation structured into three areas

As part of the agreement, authorities set three pillars for collaboration:

• exchanging intelligence on unlicensed operators and emerging digital networks
• coordinated action urging platforms to remove illegal gambling advertising
• sharing methods for identifying, investigating, and sanctioning operators

Regulators expect joint approaches to improve disruption of unlawful services and enhance player protection across Europe. They said alignment of national efforts will support compliance with domestic and international rules.

The regulators stated their “strong commitment to consumer protection, market integrity, and compliance with national and international regulations within the respective legal framework.”

Industry initiatives and EU-level efforts

The announcement coincided with the 1st International Gaming Congress, also held in Madrid, where consumer protection featured in discussions of national regulatory models.

Industry-linked groups have recently called for expanded oversight of online gambling promotion. GambleAware has urged additional guardrails on digital advertising, including mandatory health warnings. The European Gaming and Betting Association (EGBA) has supported a new voluntary EU standard guiding operators on early detection of risky gambling behavior, expected to be introduced in early 2026.

The cooperation agreement also aligns with the European Union’s ProtectEU strategy launched in 2025, which includes illegal gambling within efforts to address cross-border threats. Related actions under discussion include applying the Digital Services Act to gambling content and expanding enforcement through a new Anti-Money Laundering Authority.

Regulators said the agreement “marks a renewed and united commitment by our jurisdictions to strengthen the integrity of the regulated gambling sector and to protect citizens from the risks posed by illegal gambling activities.”