The scale of the gambling industry

The German gambling industry is one of the largest and most regulated in Europe. According to the regulator and profile research, the total gross gambling income (GGR) has steadily exceeded €13 billion and continued to grow after the legalization of online in 2021. In 2024, the market is estimated at about €14.4 billion GGR (plus ~ 5% year-on-year).

Dynamics by years (GGR, benchmarks)

2022: about €12.5 billion (estimate based on research and references to GGL data).

2023: about €13.7 billion (+ ~ 2% by 2022).

2024: about €14.4 billion (+ ~ 5% by 2023).

Bottom line: the industry is confidently above the threshold of €13 billion per year, and the trend shifts it to the average "shelf" of €14 + billion.

Market structure: what makes the main contribution

Lotteries (land operators, DLTB): the largest "anchor" of the market; sustainable admissions and broad retail/online channels. (See DLTB summary reports and industry presentations by market.)

Land-based slot machines and casinos (Spielbanken, Spielhallen): a significant GGR formation; it is influenced by regional rules and access control. (Sector overviews).

Online segment: grows faster than others after GlüStV 2021. In 2024, about 24% of the legal market fell on online (~ €3.5 billion), including virtual machines, online poker and betting.

Sports betting (online and offline): steady growth amid football cycles; benchmark ~ €1.3 billion GGR in 2024.

Why online is getting bigger (and why growth is "manageable")

Legal foundation: from July 1, 2021, online slots and poker are allowed throughout the country, but under strict limits (bet up to €1, ≥5 sec/round, without autospin and jackpots). This restrains the "speed" of money, but expands the legal choice.

Control infrastructure: mandatory LUGAS (aggregation of limits and deposits) and OASIS (register of self-exclusion) align the rules for all operators.

Tax model: the turnover tax affects the mathematics of games and RTP, but ensures the predictability of budget revenues.

(Practical data and methodology are published by GGL in annual materials and market monitoring.)

Points of tension: "gray/black" online and discussions about the scale

The regulator and the industry differ in their estimates of the share of unlicensed online. Reports and studies from 2024-2025 show that the black market remains a problem, and its containment is critical for the sewerage of demand in the "white" sector. (See industry reviews and Handelsblatt Research Institute research.)

What it means for players and operators

For players: more legal options online, but under uniform limits and protection (reality checks, self-exclusion, verification).

For operators: the market is large and growing, but requires accurate localization (DE game configurations, UX requirements, connection to LUGAS/OASIS, bank payment methods).

For the state: stable budget revenues and social contributions while containing the risks of harm - the goal of "controlled liberalization."

Quick takeaways

1. Germany consistently holds> €13 billion GGR/year, reaching ~ €14.4 billion in 2024.

2. The online segment has already ~¼ the market and continues to grow under strict rules.

3. The main challenge is to channel demand from the gray zone into the licensed ecosystem without losing growth or weakening player protection.

Bottom line. The scale of the German gambling industry is double-digit billions of euros annually, with clear upward dynamics after 2021 and an increasing contribution online. Tight regulation makes this growth sustainable and socially acceptable, and the further prospect directly depends on the effectiveness of the fight against unlicensed proposals and fine-tuning the rules.