Online gaming : why illegal sites attract more players than legal sites

The number of players who frequent illegal online gambling sites—more than 5 million—has increased by 35% in two years and now exceeds the number of legal players, according to a study by the consulting firm PwC published on November 4th.

According to this study, by 2025, 75.4 million people will have gambled on illegal sites, such as online casinos, esports betting, or via gaming platforms (sports betting, horse racing, poker) that are not licensed.

In the first half of 2025, legal online gaming attracted 53.5 million unique players.

In 2023, illegal online gaming represented between 5 and 10% of the gambling market, with 73 to 74 million players, according to a PwC study.

« These illegal platforms attract customers with exorbitant bonuses, flood social media with advertising, use unscrupulous influencers, sponsor sports teams, and manipulate search engines to promote their offerings. »

Logo Misappropriation

Another factor explaining this increase is the misappropriation of logos from legitimate sites, resulting in estimated damages of « several million dollars. »

According to the study, more than 80% of players on the illegal market are unaware that these sites are illegal.

Illegal sites also particularly target at-risk players: 2 out of 3 players on these platforms exhibit excessive and pathological gambling, according to the study.

In addition to cybersecurity risks, the study also highlights the annual loss of revenue for public finances, estimated at over €1.2 billion per year (up 30% compared to 2023).

In total, the gross revenue from illegal gambling is estimated at $2 billion in 2025 (up 25% compared to 2023).