Can regulation stop illegal gambling or make it worse?

Ismail Vali, president of Gaming Compliance International; Erwin Van Lambaart, chairman of the European Casino Association; and Marta de Francisco, lawyer at Asensi Abogados, join James Swann-Philips of iGB to examine whether tightening rules are preventing illegal gambling or unknowingly accelerating it at ICE Barcelona 2026.

The scale of the black market was a central concern. Panellists cite estimates of €80 billion in illegal online gambling revenue annually across the EU, with Van Lambaart noting that this “basically means that EU countries are missing out [on] probably around €22 billion to €23 billion” in taxes. Adding to the problem, many players do not actually realise they are gambling with unlicensed operators.

Streaming emerges as a key acquisition engine for illegal gambling

Speakers argue that higher taxes, tighter product rules and advertising bans have not reduced demand but instead pushed activity offshore. When licensed operators face constraints on pricing, products and promotions, illegal sites gain a structural advantage by ignoring them.

Illegal streaming is highlighted as a powerful acquisition channel, while GCI warns that unlicensed operators systematically exploit age limits, KYC checks and self-exclusion tools. 

De Francisco adds that severe ad restrictions make it harder for legal brands to signal safety, while offshore operators market freely. “Legal operators just can do nothing, cannot compete with them,” she remarks. 

Enforcement cannot work in isolation. Effective action requires coordinated efforts among regulators, operators, suppliers and payment providers.

Watch more iGB@ICE Studio highlights on the iGB YouTube channel.