Meeting in Halle under the aegis of the GGL, regulators from German-speaking Europe are joining forces to regulate online gambling and promote a common model for responsible gambling.
German online betting group Bet-at-home is going through a period of turbulence. With revenues stagnating in the first half of 2025, the company is warning of the growing burden of regulation in Germany and Austria.
On 11 November 2025, Berlin will become the rallying point for major players in iGaming: regulators, lawyers, operators and experts will gather at the Gaming in Germany Conference to discuss the regulatory framework for online gambling in Germany and the challenges posed by the black market.
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.
