---
title: "EY Study Reveals Illegal Online Gambling in Spain Exceeds Previous Estimates"
description: "EY survey of 1,095 online gamblers finds 23.4% used unlicensed platforms, mainly due to misinformation, unrestricted access, and social media marketing."
author: "Lucas Dunn"
date: "2025-11-29T19:58:48+02:00"
url: "https://www.casino.com/news/world/ey-study-reveals-illegal-online-gambling-in-spain-exceeds-previous-estimates/"
source: "https://instantly-lasting-parrot.edgecompute.app/news/world/ey-study-reveals-illegal-online-gambling-in-spain-exceeds-previous-estimates/"
---

## Key Takeaways

-   23.4% of Spanish gamblers engage with unregulated platforms

-   The illegal online gambling market generated 16% of the regulated sector’s revenue in 2024

-   Social media channels fuel the discovery of most illegal platforms

A groundbreaking study commissioned by Spain’s **JDigital** online gaming association has revealed surprising insights into the scale of unregulated gambling activity across the country. The analysis, which collected responses from **1,095 adult online gamblers** aged 18-65, exposes a thriving underground market with sophisticated digital networks.

Researchers found that **23.4%** of participants had inadvertently used illegal platforms, with nearly **9.3%** having consciously chosen unauthorized operators. The report points to rampant misinformation, easy accessibility, and predatory social media marketing as the main propelling factors. These findings challenge previous assessments by Spain’s government of the online gambling ecosystem.

## Regulatory Gaps Exposed

JDigital **CEO Jorge Hinojosa** issued a stark warning following the report’s release, declaring, “ _This study shows that illegal gambling is not a marginal phenomenon, but a real risk for thousands of users who are outside of any guarantee_.”

Hinojosa stressed the urgency for enhanced public education on responsible gambling, redirection to licensed platforms, and cross-agency collaboration to combat the crisis. Hinojosa reinforced this stance in a separate Spanish-language report, asserting that the regulated market is the sole avenue for consumer protection.

## Underground Economy’s High Stakes

The EY analysis reveals Spain’s [illegal gambling](https://www.casino.com/news/responsible-gambling/nba-world-rocked-by-arrests-tied-to-illegal-gambling-ring/) raked in **€231 million** in 2024, equivalent to 16% of the legal sector’s revenue. High rollers spending over **€600** monthly drive 61.4% of this shadow activity, often abandoning regulated platforms for inflated bonuses, anonymity, and weaker player protections. Nearly 30% of users admitted prioritizing unlicensed operators due to massive promotions.

The illicit market thrives on digital payment systems, with **Bizum** and cryptocurrency transactions enabling widespread, discreet gambling. Confusion persists among the masses, with 26% of gamblers failing to identify legal platforms, while 15% remain unaware of potential risks.

Young adults aged 18-24 show the highest engagement (16.1%) but the lowest awareness, with 32.1% claiming they had no idea of the existence of unregulated operators. This underscores the vulnerability in Spain’s gambling education frameworks.

## Risky Online Pathways

Social platforms have become accelerators of Spain’s underground gambling economy, with 38% of illegal platform users discovering unregulated sites through **YouTube**, **TikTok**, or **Instagram**. The messaging app **Telegram** proves to be the most influential, with 12% of participants accessing illegal operators through it. EY highlights these “ _opaque and unsupervised digital channels_ ” as primary recruitment tools for unauthorized operators.