Malta MEP Agius warns EU online gambling ad ban may fuel illegal market
Regulation · SectorWire deskSource published
Summary
Maltese MEP Peter Agius warned that an EU-wide ban on online gambling advertising could push players towards unregulated operators. He said a blanket prohibition might undermine consumer protection rather than strengthen it, and cited a 2023 study commissioned by French regulator ANJ finding illegal-operator customers showed problematic gambling behaviour at 66% against 22% for regulated services.
Why it matters
Agius's warning signals that EU policymakers weighing advertising restrictions face channelisation concerns, a risk operators and regulators already cite in national markets.
Cite as: SectorWire, “Malta MEP Agius warns EU online gambling ad ban may fuel illegal market”, 26 June 2026, https://sectorwire.news/item/malta-mep-agius-warns-eu-online-gambling-ad-ban-may-fuel-illegal-marke/