Germany stepped up its fight against illegal gambling in 2024

In 2024, Germany took a decisive step in regulating its online gambling market. The Gemeinsame Glücksspielbehörde der Länder (GGL), the authority established under the 2021 State Treaty on Gaming, took an ambitious approach to countering illegal gambling and increasing transparency. While challenges remain, the results achieved in 2024 show that structural reforms can transform a complex sector.

Firm measures to counter illegal gambling

In response to the proliferation of illegal gambling platforms, the GGL has stepped up initiatives. According to GGL Board Member Ronald Benter, 2024 presented a variety of challenges, but GGL showed that it had the structures and expertise to actively address them.

Key measures included:

• Geo-blocking: The expansion of geo-blocking techniques, enabled by the Digital Services Act, restricted access to illegal sites for German users.
• Regulated advertising: In partnership with Google, GGL restricted advertising to licensed operators. This led to a significant reduction in illegal ads as early as September 2024.
• Payment blocking: By working with payment service providers, GGL cut off financial flows to illegal sites. A legal victory against a Swiss provider illustrated the effectiveness of this strategy.

Increasing transparency and holding operators accountable

In October 2024, GGL issued its first public warnings to non-compliant licensed operators. This move, marking zero tolerance for regulatory violations, aimed to prevent future violations while making the market more transparent.

One of the priorities was the regulation of amateur sports betting. The GGL called on operators to block access via foreign domains and to prevent the use of VPNs. At the same time, the authority participated in the debate on the reform of the German Criminal Code to better regulate these activities.

Increased support for players

To enlighten consumers, the GGL launched a new FAQ section, explaining licensing requirements, the risks of illegal gambling and player protection measures. This initiative aims to help players make informed decisions.

However, the black market remains a major problem. Contrary to alarming industry estimates, the GGL believes that this market is less extensive than previously thought. To refine this data, it commissioned a study on channelling effects, the results of which will be published at the end of 2025.

Outlook for 2025

In 2024, the GGL also monitored the evaluation of the 2021 State Treaty, identifying areas for improvement, including the extension of supervisory powers over international operators and IP blocking. Studies on player protection and advertising are influencing future regulatory adjustments.

For 2025, the GGL plans to intensify its international cooperation and further digitalise its operations.

“We will do everything in our power to continue on this path.”

Ronald Benter

What is the situation in Belgium?

Belgium is following a rigorous strategy to ensure a safe and fair gaming environment. The Gaming Commission has continued to put in place key mechanisms to counter illegal sites and collaborate with licensed operators.

In 2024, several important changes have taken place and more are planned for this year.

Fight against illegal sites

The fight against casinos without a Belgian license has intensified during the year. The blacklist of unauthorized platforms exceeds the 580 blocked sites mark. All sites on this list are automatically blocked by access providers, reducing the risks. So if you mistakenly access casinohermes.com, one of the latest additions to the list, or star-casino.be, an illegal site using a URL similar to that of Star Casino, you will systematically come across an error page like this:

Thanks to Article XVII.34/1 of the Code of Economic Law, the fight against illegal sites has also been made simpler. From now on, operators will be able to go directly to court to block these malicious sites.

On December 17, the Gaming Commission, in partnership with the FPS Economy, organized an information session reserved for professionals to explain what the rules are exactly and how to use them.

Stricter rules

Since September 1, 2024, the law of February 18, 2024 has come into force. The aim of this reform is to strengthen the protection of players and better regulate the sector. It introduces important measures to strengthen the protection of players who are most vulnerable to the risks associated with gambling.

Among the main innovations, we note the increase in the minimum age for gambling, now set at 21. This provision aims to limit access for young people, who are considered particularly susceptible to developing addictions.

Commercial practices such as bonuses, gifts or free games are now prohibited, as these incentives are identified as factors that increase the risk of addiction.

Gambling advertising is also severely restricted, and sports clubs will soon no longer be allowed to be sponsored by gambling companies.

At the same time, the regulation of gambling operators has become stricter. The accumulation of online licenses on the same website has been prohibited, a measure intended to limit market concentration and encourage fairer competition. With these measures, the government rather ensures a negative channeling effect.

It is clear that Belgium and Germany, although different in their approaches, share a common objective: to structure a market where transparency and player protection take precedence.