Germany: illegal advertising soars
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6 Feb 2026 •
Reading time: 3 minutes In Germany, black market casinos and betting operators continue to reach millions of Internet users through online advertising. Behind the façade of regulation, a well-oiled system is allowing the black market to prosper, in plain sight.
An invisible but formidably effective mechanism
At first sight, the massive distribution of illegal advertising for online casinos seems incomprehensible. The major digital platforms claim to have robust compliance frameworks, automated controls and dedicated moderation teams. However, the reality is very different.
The way the system works is, according to industry players, surprisingly simple. Specialised agencies offer illegal operators virtually unlimited access to advertising accounts. When one account is suspended, another immediately takes over. There is total continuity and virtually no interruption. The advertising message continues to circulate and players continue to be attracted.
These agencies charge a clear business model: a small fixed fee, plus a percentage of the advertising budget actually spent.
Outdated or complacent platforms?
How is it possible that so many advertising accounts are created in advance, ready to be activated as soon as another is blocked? The registration procedures, which are supposed to verify the identity and legality of advertisers, appear to be porous.
In reality, platforms often prefer not to know too much. Identifying exactly who is behind each campaign would cost time and money and risk reducing advertising revenues. As long as the payments are made and the ads respect certain technical rules on the surface, the system will continue to work.
The technical service providers and agencies involved play a key role. Their intermediary position allows them to clear their name easily. It doesn’t matter what content is being promoted, as long as commissions are paid. This lack of discernment feeds the black market economy directly.
What’s even more disturbing is that these services are sometimes openly promoted at international trade shows. Stands are rented and business cards distributed, without any real questioning of the legality of the activities presented.
Figures that make you dizzy
The scale of the phenomenon goes far beyond mere suspicion. In just one month, around 350,000 separate advertising campaigns targeting German users were identified on a major social platform. The previous month, the figure was already worrying: 75,000 campaigns. This advertising explosion suggests that the rules are being circumvented on an industrial scale. In Belgium, the Gaming Commission reported more than 7,000 illegal gambling ads on Meta platforms.
National authorities can suspend sites, block payment methods or impose fines. But when operators are based abroad, the application of these sanctions becomes complex and sometimes ineffective. Black market operators have understood this. They know that cross-border prosecution is slow, costly and rarely a priority.
In the meantime, profits are piling up. Players, for their part, are exposed to unregulated offers, with no guarantees of protection or recourse in the event of a dispute. Advertising therefore becomes the main weapon of these operators. As long as they can recruit new customers, the legal risk is seen as secondary.
A danger for players and the legal market
As well as being illegal, these practices pose a public safety problem. Black market casinos do not comply with obligations to protect players, prevent addiction or ensure financial transparency. Personal data can be exploited without control, and winnings not paid out without any possibility of complaint.
For legal operators, the situation is just as worrying. Subject to strict rules, high taxes and advertising restrictions, they find themselves in direct competition with players who do not respect any constraints.
The current situation is simply unacceptable. The question is no longer whether the problem exists, but how much longer it will be ignored.