The GGL publishes its first quarterly data
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19 Aug 2025 •
Reading time: 2 minutes The Gemeinsame Glücksspielbehörde der Länder (GGL) is publishing detailed quarterly data on wagers for the first time. The aim? To promote fact-based discussion, as the institution emphasises. This initiative is part of a broader review of the GlüStV 2021, the German inter-state treaty on gambling, which began at the end of 2023.
A spectacular first quarter: more than €3.5 billion wagered
In the first quarter of 2025, German players placed €3.51 billion in bets (excluding lotteries). Of this, €2.18 billion went to sports betting. Of this total, €1.59 billion came from the online segment, while €585 million was wagered at physical outlets. Horse racing generated €25 million.
Other key sectors included virtual slot machines, which attracted €1.1 billion in bets, and online poker, which reached €204 million.
Q2 saw a slight decline, but there were nuances and signs of resilience
The second quarter revealed a slight overall decline, with total bets amounting to €3.22 billion, down 8.3% compared to Q1.
- Sports betting fell by 13.5% to €1.89 billion. The online segment declined by 12.7%, while betting at points of sale fell by 15.6%.
- Virtual slot machines showed a slight increase of 1.6% to €1.12 billion.
- Online poker declined by 9.8% to €184 million.
- The only real growth was in horse racing betting, which rose by 28% to €32 million.
Lotteries and gaming intermediaries: relative stability
Cross-border lottery stakes fell modestly from €377 million in Q1 to €371 million in Q2. Social lotteries fell from €315 million to €313 million, and state lotteries from €61 million to €58 million. Furthermore, commercial intermediation in the gaming sector remained stable: €243 million in Q1 and €240 million in Q2.
What this means for regulators and public debate
The regular publication of this data, via the GGL Gambling Market Monitor, aims to ease differences within the sector, particularly regarding the size of the black market. In 2024, the GGL estimated the share of the illegal market at around 25% of regulated online betting, a figure contested by the DSWV, the pro-industry association, which argued that it exceeded 50%. Increased transparency will undoubtedly help to refine these estimates and promote more balanced regulation.
With the 2021 GlüStV reform underway, this new publication frequency should support informed political decisions. Topics such as deposit limits, betting limits and IP blocking measures will be at the heart of future debates. The GGL plans to enhance the monitor with additional indicators in the future.