EGBA Annual Report 2026 Highlights €18bn GGR, Safer Gambling Progress and Regulatory Developments
The European Gaming and Betting Association (EGBA) published its Annual Activity Report 2026 on 9 July 2026, highlighting a year of progress across safer gambling, regulatory engagement, anti-money laundering (AML) compliance, responsible advertising, and industry growth. The report also presents aggregated market data from EGBA’s member operators, providing insight into developments across Europe’s regulated online gambling sector during 2025.
According to the report, EGBA continued working with European institutions, national regulators, and industry stakeholders to strengthen player protection while supporting competitive and well-regulated online gambling markets. The association also advanced industry standards through policy engagement, sustainability initiatives, and collaboration with regulators across Europe.
European Safer Gambling Initiatives Reach New Milestones
European Safer Gambling Week 2025 delivered its strongest participation since the campaign began, bringing together 221 partners from 24 countries, representing a 14% increase compared with 2024. The initiative achieved a social media reach of 4.1 million people while hosting 23 events, attracting 4,000 registrations and 120 speakers.
For the first time, safer gambling messages were displayed during live televised football matches in Bulgaria, Germany, Greece, and Italy. EGBA also launched safergambling.eu, a dedicated platform providing country-specific gambling helplines, self-exclusion options, and practical safer gambling guidance for players across Europe.
The report further highlights the approval of EN 18144, the first European standard on markers of harm for online gambling. Proposed by EGBA in 2022, the voluntary standard introduces nine behavioural indicators to help operators identify potentially harmful gambling behaviour more consistently. EGBA also introduced its Responsible Influencer Marketing Pledge, developed with support from the European Advertising Standards Alliance (EASA), to strengthen standards for influencer-led gambling advertising through enhanced age-gating, clearer commercial disclosures, and responsible content requirements.
Regulatory Progress and Membership Growth
The report highlights several significant regulatory developments during the year, including the Court of Justice of the European Union’s dismissal of the Netherlands’ appeal in the Dutch State Aid case, which EGBA said reinforces the importance of fair and competitive licensing processes under EU law.
Another milestone was Finland’s approval of legislation ending its online gambling monopoly, with the country’s new multi-licensing framework scheduled to take effect on 1 July 2027.
On the compliance front, EGBA members completed the second annual reporting process under the association’s AML Guidelines while the organisation continued engaging with the newly established Anti-Money Laundering Authority (AMLA) on implementing the EU’s updated AML framework.
EGBA also expanded its membership by welcoming Tipico as its ninth full operator member and Yaspa as a new associate member. During the year, the association strengthened its Brussels-based secretariat with three new appointments across policy and regulatory affairs.
Member Data Shows Continued Market Expansion
According to the report, EGBA members generated €18.0 billion in combined online gross gaming revenue (GGR) during 2025, representing a 34% increase compared with 2024. EGBA noted the increase reflects both expanded membership and organic growth among existing operators.
Member operators processed 248.7 billion online stakes worth €275.3 billion, resulting in customer winnings of €257.3 billion and an aggregate return-to-player (RTP) rate of 93.4%, according to the report. Active online customer accounts increased to 43.8 million during the year.
Casino remained the largest online product category, accounting for 48% of total GGR in 2025, followed by sports betting at 46%. EGBA members collectively held 401 online gambling licences across 22 European jurisdictions and represented approximately 30% of Europe’s online gambling gross gaming revenue.
The report also highlighted sustainability progress, revealing that EGBA members contributed €3.8 billion in taxes to European economies during 2024. It also found that 69% of customers had safety tools activated, members sent 100 million safer gambling messages to customers, and more than 83% of employees received safer gambling training.
Future Focus: Regulation, Safer Gambling and Market Integrity
Reflecting on the report, EGBA Secretary General Maarten Haijer described the past year as a landmark period for the association, highlighting the record participation in European Safer Gambling Week, the approval of the first European standard on markers of harm, the launch of the Responsible Influencer Marketing Pledge, and continued progress under EGBA’s AML Guidelines. He also identified Finland’s transition to a multi-licensed online gambling market as a significant milestone, saying it reinforces EGBA’s long-standing position that competitive, well-regulated markets are the most effective way to protect consumers and address illegal gambling.
Looking ahead, EGBA will continue engaging with EU institutions and national regulators to promote balanced and smart regulation across Europe. The association also plans to expand its safer gambling and sustainability initiatives, support wider adoption of the European markers of harm standard, strengthen anti-money laundering cooperation, continue tackling illegal gambling, and contribute to upcoming policy discussions, including the Digital Fairness Act and other regulatory initiatives affecting Europe’s regulated online gambling market.
