In Germany, the regulation of online sports betting is struggling to establish itself. A recent survey reveals that the vast majority of active sites targeting German players operate without an official licence.
In Germany, betting on political, social or international events, such as elections or the outcome of conflicts such as the war in Ukraine, is becoming increasingly popular. However, these bets, often offered on platforms such as Polymarket, are considered illegal under German law.
The future of hundreds of disputes relating to gambling losses in Germany remains uncertain. On 5 September, an opinion delivered by the Advocate General of the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) recognised the validity of certain actions against online gambling operators, but did not settle the central question: the compatibility of the German gambling treaty with EU law.
The online casino industry in Germany is undergoing a major transformation, shaped by strict regulation and the rapid adoption of new technologies. Mark Seibert, founder and editor-in-chief of OnlineCasinosDeutschland.com, offers an informed perspective on current trends and future developments in this dynamic sector.
In July 2021, when Germany opened its online gaming market via the Gaming Treaty (GlüNeuRStV), a protection mechanism was launched: OASIS, the national self-exclusion system. Today, this mechanism is proving to be a tangible success.
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.
Since the 2021 Interstate Gambling Treaty (GlüStV) came into force, German online casino players have had to comply with a strict rule: a monthly deposit limit of €1,000, applicable nationwide to all operators. The government’s aim behind this measure is to combat gambling addiction and provide a firmer framework for the fast-growing digital gambling industry.
Faced with the growing threat of the black market in gambling, Germany’s interior ministers are calling for immediate reform of the sector and an expansion of the powers of the national regulator, the GGL.
German gambling watchdog GGL came out with figures for 2024. According to them, things are going pretty well. More people are playing legally, and they are said to have cracked down on quite a few illegal websites. But the casinos themselves don’t believe any of it.
Andreas Ditsche, CEO of iGaming and university lecturer, spoke at Gaming in Holland 2025 to denounce the risks of excessively low deposit limits. Read more about his speech and his interview with CasinoNieuws.nl.
In Germany, a major debate is shaking up the online gaming sector. The backdrop is an inter-state treaty set up in 2021 to regulate betting and deposits, which is currently under review. Its flaws, from the definition of affordability to IP blocking, are prompting an urgent overhaul.
In Germany, the regulation of online gambling is struggling to contain the growth of the black market. According to the 2023 report by the Gemeinsame Glücksspielbehörde der Länder (GGL), illegal financial flows account for between 2% and 4% of gross gaming sales (GGR), or €400-600 million. But statistics shared at Gaming in Holland 2025 show that 80% of revenues go to illegal operators.
On 19 March 2025, the Bundesverwaltungsgericht (BVerwG), Germany’s highest administrative court, handed down a ruling that redefined the limits of the regulatory authorities’ action against unauthorised online gambling sites.
On 31 May 2025, Paris Saint-Germain and Inter Milan will meet for the first time in the Champions League finale at Munich’s Allianz Arena stadium. The match promises to be an epic clash between two giants of European football.
In Germany, almost half of online gamblers are still using illegal gambling sites, despite the regulations due to be introduced in 2021. This black market deprives the State of significant revenue and exposes users to increased risks.
The Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) is examining a case between a German player and Lottoland, an online gaming operator based in Malta, concerning the reimbursement of gambling losses incurred on a platform that was unauthorised in Germany at the time of the events.
Cybersecurity expert Lilith Wittmann has discovered a critical flaw in Merkur’s GraphQL interface, exposing the data of 800,000 players. This vulnerability allowed illegal casinos in Germany to exploit insecure software supplied by The Mill Adventure. After alerting the company, Wittmann found that it had cut off access to unregulated platforms, leading to the sudden closure of at least 12 gaming sites.
