GGL: “National regulation requires a cross-border perspective in order to be successful in the long term”
In an exclusive interview with Focus Gaming News, a spokesperson for the GGL, the German gambling regulator, discusses the agency’s progress in terms of compliance and international cooperation.
Exclusive interview.- Focus Gaming News spoke with a spokesperson of the Gemeinsame Glücksspielbehörde der Länder (GGL), Germany’s gambling regulator, to assess recent progress, including efforts to curb illegal online gambling, monitor advertising practices, and strengthen cooperation across Europe.
The interview also revolves around the authority’s key goals for the remainder of the year and the anticipated impact of the upcoming update of the State Treaty on Gambling 2021 (GlüStV 2021).
The first half of 2025 has already passed. What is your assessment of the work done so far, and what are your goals for the rest of the year?
Our goals for 2025 include strengthening the GGL in its role as the central point of contact for operators, players, associations, and other stakeholders in the field of cross-state gambling. National and international networking, as well as intensive exchange, are key to making optimal use of the limited resources available to regulatory authorities.
Furthermore, our focus is on the further development of the Safe Server, ongoing monitoring of advertising—particularly the advertising activities of illegal operators—and, of course, supporting the evaluation of the State Treaty on Gambling 2021 (GlüStV 2021).
You can find further information on this in Chapter 5, “Outlook 2025” (p. 58) of our 2024 Activity Report, which we recently published on the website of the Joint Gambling Authority of the Federal States.
Illegal online gambling remains a concern. What concrete steps is the GGL currently taking to tackle unlicensed platforms targeting German players? Is the GGL seeing a decrease in unlicensed gambling activity due to these enforcement efforts?
Combating illegal gambling and related advertising is a priority for the GGL and is pursued through various means. The detailed approach and the individual enforcement instruments are also outlined in our Activity Report, Chapter 3, “Combating Illegal Gambling” (p. 24).
The GGL’s measures against illegal operators are having an effect. In 2024, 188 illegal online gambling operators ceased offering their services to the German market, and 284 advertisers stopped promoting illegal online gambling in Germany.
These cumulative figures represent an increase of 61 illegal online gambling operators and 35 advertisers compared to 2023. In total, 1,376 illegal gambling websites and 806 advertising sites for unauthorised online gambling were taken down. This corresponds to an increase, compared to the previous year, of 459 illegal gambling sites and 288 advertising sites for unauthorised online gambling. We are continuously working to make the business model of illegal gambling unattractive.
“Combating illegal gambling and related advertising is a priority for the GGL and is pursued through various means.”
What is your assessment of the effectiveness of the centralised self-exclusion system (OASIS)?
Responsibility for this player exclusion system lies permanently with the Regional Council of Darmstadt. All information can be found at: Spielersperrsystem OASIS | Regierungspräsidium Darmstadt (hessen.de)
What is the primary objective of the market review on gambling advertising, and how do you foresee it influencing the development of the new advertising code?
The State Treaty on Gambling 2021 (GlüStV 2021) sets out the permissible framework conditions according to the risk potential of each form of gambling. The GGL monitors advertising for gambling offers to ensure that it complies with the relevant requirements and is not directed at minors or similarly vulnerable groups. The authority also evaluates the extent to which the existing advertising regulations are effective.
For this reason, the GGL commissioned a study on “Gambling Advertising on Television and the Internet in the Context of Channelisation and Addiction Prevention”. The research project aims to evaluate the effectiveness of the advertising provisions of GlüStV 2021. The results are expected to provide insight into the extent to which the provisions of Section 5 of GlüStV 2021 are suitable for directing players and those intending to play towards the advertised legal gambling offer, without creating a (special or critical) incentive effect on those who have not previously been interested in gambling and/or on vulnerable individuals.
Following the review, which is expected to be completed in 2026, what will be the next steps?
The planning of concrete steps will depend on the outcome of the evaluation of the State Treaty on Gambling 2021, which is expected to be available at the end of 2026.
How do you view the cooperation between the GGL and other European gambling regulators? Are there ongoing joint initiatives to tackle cross-border gambling challenges?
The GGL is continuously expanding its cooperation with European gambling regulatory authorities and international institutions. While there is no regulation at EU level, Brussels initiatives such as the Digital Services Act or the Digital Fairness Act do have an impact on the field of online gambling.
Similarly, the cases currently pending before the European Court of Justice regarding gambling law demonstrate that national regulation requires a cross-border perspective in order to be successful in the long term. Targeted exchanges of experience therefore take place regularly in specialist groups. At international industry events, GGL representatives keep themselves informed about market and technological developments. This dialogue helps to identify best practices and possible approaches for further developing supervisory practice.