Strengthening control over online gambling

Germany has consistently tightened control over the online gambling market after the launch of GlüStV/GlüNeuRStV 2021 and the transfer of inter-land supervision to a single regulator GGL. The vector manifested itself most severely in 2024-2025: the regulator increased pressure on the "black" segment, expanded public reporting and synchronized rules with large advertising platforms.

1) Pressure on illegal online segment

Mass inspections and bans. In 2024, GGL reviewed hundreds of licensed cases and thousands of games, while simultaneously closing access to illegal resources; at the end of the year alone, hundreds of sites were banned and hundreds of domains/mirrors were deleted. These figures show a shift to ongoing monitoring and "sanitizing" of dispensing and traffic.

Evaluation of the "black" market. According to a number of industry reports, the illegal online segment in Germany is still noticeable (hundreds of providers and hundreds of millions of euros of turnover), which explains the increased intensity of blocking and lawsuits.

2) Judicial framework and blocking tactics

IP blocking in question. The highest administrative instance in 2025 limited the use of "clean" IP blocking in its former form; the regulator shifts its focus to the host-based approach, domain and payment restrictions.

Lottoland case and momentum for reform. In 2025, the court confirmed the denial of GGL's authority to block access to one of the major offshore brands - this accelerated the discussion of point amendments to the Treaty by 2026.

3) Advertising and platform rules

Certification with Google. From September 25, 2024, only licensed and certified GGL operators/intermediaries can be advertised on Google. This sharply reduced the "gray" distribution of offshore brands in search and on YouTube.

Tightening 2025. The platform continued to tighten the screws on gambling advertising, expanding definitions and requirements for local certification. Trend: tech giants are bringing their own politicians closer to state supervision.

4) Player-defensive bases: OASIS and LUGAS

OASIS - the rise of self-exclusion. In 2024, the number of registrations in the OASIS national self-exclusion system increased sharply (in total, hundreds of thousands of records over four years of operation), and in 2025, public statistics were officially opened. This demonstrates that addiction prevention is becoming the focus of the regulatory model.

LUGAS - uniform limits and "anti-parallel." Central Limit- and Aktivitätsdatei monitor the monthly deposit limit (base 1,000 € per month) and prevent multiple operators from playing simultaneously; in 2023-2024, exceptions appeared with an increase in the limit with a strict check of solvency (up to 10,000 € in some cases).

5) Transparency and reporting

GGL has increased open reports: data on market volumes, taxes and supervisory results are published; business publications record the growth of the "white" segment and tax revenues in 2024, even if the industry argues with the estimates of the offshore sector.

6) How tighter controls affect the market

For operators: complication of compliance (connection to OASIS/LUGAS, KYC/AML procedures, adjustments to product lines), risk of sanctions for advertising and for deviations in game mechanics, reassembly of media purchases for certification.

For affiliates and media: narrowing inventory and formats, certification filters, growing requirements for labeling and audience segmentation.

For players: more "predictive" protection (self-exclusion, limits, parallel game locks), more transparent information about the license and payment channel; simultaneous pressure on illegal offers, including crypto sites and mirrors.

7) Horizon 2025-2026: What's on the agenda

Point amendments to the Contract. Lands and feds discuss updating regulations by 2026 (including controversial ideas about setting limits and other protection parameters); the goal is to close the legal gaps identified by practice and the courts.

The focus is on execution, not just the letter. The transition from IP-to "host-based" and payment blocking, deepening cooperation with payment providers and platforms, regular quarterly publication of figures and industry "raids" against mirrors.

Bottom line. The German model is tightly focused on licensing + behavioral protection (OASIS/LUGAS) and platform ad filtering. Despite the controversy surrounding black market estimates and IP blocking restrictions, the trend is obvious: the regulator and large platforms have synchronized the rules, and targeted amendments by 2026 should close the remaining legal "holes" and stabilize the growth of the "white" segment.