All over Europe, sports betting sites prey on the vulnerable, luring them into addiction. The majority of these platforms belong to powerful multinationals who resist regulation. Gambling addiction has become an emergency, a key public health issue around the world.
Sports betting has always existed. But you used to have to go to a betting shop to do it. In the early 2000s, the birth of the internet and changes in EU regulation revolutionised the sector. As a result, the online market has grown from €250 million to €9.8 billion over the past 20 years. An increase of 4000%.
Although sports betting is banned for minors, betting platforms have no qualms about targeting teenagers. As a result, half of all players are younger than 25. Most of them are men. While those who regularly win have restrictions placed on their account, those already in debt are targeted with free offers and loyalty rewards to keep them hooked. Raphael had already lost tens of thousands of euros on an online gambling platform when he was invited to join their VIP scheme. He told his contact he was in severe debt and needed to stop but they kept sending him more offers. Then, against all odds, he hit the jackpot and won €750,000. But when he immediately tried to withdraw the money to pay off his debts, he was blocked and encouraged to keep gambling. In the end, despite repeated attempts to withdraw the money, he ended up losing it all in 36 hours.
According to various studies, gambling costs European countries two to three times more money than it bring in. Today in many countries, betting companies still face no regulation or restrictions on their marketing, free bets, VIP schemes, or sports sponsorships. Our investigation reveals the ugly truth behind this predatory industry. We hear the personal stories of those whose lives were ruined by sports gambling.