5BTC or 111% + 111 Free Spins!
New players only. Exclusive 111% Welcome Bonus + 111 Free Spins
Italy now faces an unlicensed online gambling market worth about €20 billion ($22.5 billion), according to Data Room Nexus Observatory, even after years of strict advertising limits.
Good to Know
Illegal operators are no longer relying only on open web ads. They reach players through Instagram, Telegram, WhatsApp, YouTube, push alerts, referral links and private groups. Researchers also warned that fake apps and cloned pages can make unlicensed platforms look close to legal gambling brands.
Italy banned gambling advertising tied to cash winnings through the 2018 Decreto Dignità law. Sponsorships and social media promotion also fell under the ban. Yet the report said those limits may have helped illegal operators by forcing promotion into harder-to-track channels, while licensed companies remain easier to police.
Italian authorities blocked more than 1,000 illegal gambling websites in 2025. Many returned within hours or days through mirror sites using the same payment systems, customer databases and technical setup.
Data Room Nexus tracked about 500 gambling-related websites, but the report said the real number is likely higher because domains change fast and much of the activity sits inside closed messaging channels.
Isabella Rusciano, General Director of Data Room Nexus, said:
“When illegal content circulates on platforms perceived as trustworthy, it becomes increasingly difficult for ordinary users to distinguish between what is authorised and what is not.”
The user base also skews young. Around 78% of visitors were male, while nearly half were under 35. The largest group was aged 25 to 34, and traffic peaked between midday and midnight.
Direct traffic has also become a warning sign. More users now return through saved links or browser searches instead of ads, which means illegal gambling platforms are building repeat habits.
Filippo Pucci, Scientific Director of Data Room Nexus, said:
“The issue of responsible gambling becomes even more sensitive when discussing unregulated markets.
“The complete absence of controls significantly increases users’ exposure to risk.”
Beyond player safety, Italy also loses tax revenue as billions flow outside the regulated gambling economy. The report said illegal sites leave users with few protections around responsible gambling, data privacy, account disputes or missing funds.