EGBA calls on European Commission to combat fraudulent gambling websites

(AsiaGameHub) –   The organization alerts that European consumers face an increasing danger from deceptive gambling websites and applications that pose as authorized operators.

Belgium – The European Gaming and Betting Association (EGBA) states it has submitted evidence in response to the European Commission’s recent call for input regarding the upcoming EU Action Plan to Combat Online Fraud. Its submission advocated for unified EU measures to address fraudulent gambling sites and apps that take advantage of the good standing of legal operators.

The EGBA noted that its submission was backed by documented proof showing how scammers methodically pretend to be licensed gambling operators to trick consumers throughout Europe. The evidence includes instances of fake websites using domain names that copy or closely mirror legitimate operators, illegal gambling apps available on Google Play and the Apple App Store, phishing schemes imitating licensed brands, and social media ads that direct users to real-money apps located outside the EU which are masked as games.

“These forms of fraud put players at risk of identity theft, financial harm, and unsafe gambling conditions where proven protections provided by regulated operators—such as self-exclusion—are absent,” the association stated. “EGBA members report that fraudulent domains and apps across Europe often reappear soon after being taken down, leaving consumers continuously exposed even with constant monitoring, takedown requests, and repeated enforcement steps.”

The EGBA projects that illegal operators accounted for 27 percent (approximately €18 billion) of the total gross gaming revenue in Europe’s online gambling market in 2025. It notes that some non-EU offshore operators falsely assert they hold EU country-issued gambling licenses, mislead about their regulatory standing, and often hide gambling products as games.

Dr Ekaterina Hartmann, Director of Legal and Regulatory Affairs at EGBA, said: “The evidence we’ve collected demonstrates how scammers are methodically taking advantage of the trust consumers have in the licensed gambling sector, endangering European consumers and enabling the illegal online gambling market to expand.

“From counterfeit websites and deceptive apps to phishing attacks and social media frauds, these threats resurface just as fast as they are removed. Disjointed national strategies for these fraud types are insufficient—we need coordinated EU-wide action to make sure consumers and legal operators don’t end up waging an uphill fight against fraud.”

The European Commission’s Action Plan to Combat Online Fraud is scheduled for adoption in the second quarter of 2026. This initiative aims to reduce online fraud across various economic sectors in the EU via enhanced coordination and cross-border collaboration.