The Role of the GGL in Shaping Germany’s Online Gambling Landscape

The success of the iGaming industry is an unprecedented achievement in entertainment. Online gambling grew from a small subsidiary to a greater market into a juggernaut in its own right. What is more it did so in only two decades. It was only a matter of time before world governments would have to start taking the industry seriously.

Germany has been trying to set certain standards for iGaming for years now. The State Treaty on Gaming 2021 finally set some guidelines for German gambling websites. Many believe that these guidelines might be too strict. But the Join Gambling Authority of Germany disagrees. The GGL plays an instrumental role in enforcing GlüStV and shaping the German iGaming landscape.

GGL Comes Down on Illegal Operators

If the Join Gambling Authority’s mission could be boiled down to one thing it would be the elimination of illegal operators. The organization has been ferociously pursuing this goal since last year. They have recently stepped their game up and truly cracked down on rogue operators. During one high-profile operation the GGL managed to eliminate over two hundred unlicensed websites from the Google search results. Many saw the sweep as a triumph for the industry as a whole.

The GGL is instrumental in ensuring a superior gambling market in Germany. They help players make a distinction between the legal and licensed casinos like Wildz and those platforms that would do them harm. Though their achievements from last year are truly incredible the organization is nowhere near ready to stop. They have amped up their criminal investigations in hopes of taking down as many illegal operators from the Google search results as possible. There are over 800 rogue websites remaining according to the GGL’s 2024 activity report.

The authority’s CEO has spoken numerous times on his own hopes for the future of iGaming. He has issued a call to action to European countries. The fight against illegal online casinos cannot stop at Germany’s border. International co-operation is absolutely necessary if the problem is to be addressed effectively. The GGL is doing their part in the country and is quite effective in what they do.

The GGL is Setting Standards for Transparency

The Authority’s main goal is to create a better and safer iGaming market for the people of Germany. That means that their mission goes beyond simply eliminating rogue operators. They are also setting standards for the legal casinos operating within the country. One way they do so is by promoting transparency between businesses and their customers. The Joint Gambling Authority is responsible for ensuring that all legal online casinos in the country stick to the standards of GlüStV.

That means that the GGL must make sure that businesses follow a set of transparency rules that are key in shaping the industry’s future. One such rule dictates that all online casinos must take the time to keep their clients informed about the dangerous aspects of the market. German gambling sites must issue warnings about compulsive gambling. They must also take the time to type out an informative section on gambling responsibly. The idea is to point new players in the right direction.

But talk of transparency would be highly hypocritical if the GGL itself is not transparent. The organization broke down the 2025 German gambling statistics for the first time ever in an attempt to practice what they preach. The results showed an 8% drop in gross gambling revenue during the second quarter of the year. Some gamblers are concerned that this may be due to the strict policies set by the State Treaty on Gaming. Experts believe that there is nothing to worry about. All signs point to the fact that the iGaming industry has grown since last year; and will continue to improve by the end of this one.

The GGL Role in Advertisement and Sponsorships

Sponsorships and advertisements play a huge role in a business’ ability to proliferate. Restrictions on advertisements are almost always guaranteed to curb a market’s growth. That is why it shocked many when the United Kingdom issued a ban on sports teams collaborating with online casinos and betting websites earlier this year. Many fear that the German government might take steps down that same road.

The State treaty already imposes some pretty heavy advertisement restrictions on the gambling industry. The first is that they are not allowed to advertise between 9 PM and 6 AM. These are considered prime family viewing hours. Advertising during the period would be greatly beneficial. But it also might expose minors to the industry; which the GGL and the German government would rather avoid.

Online casinos are also not allowed to advertise during live sports coverage. Sports play a big role in our culture. The immense success of the EA FC video game franchise is proof of that fact. Advertisements during major sporting events is a sure way to get attention to a product. But live sports coverage once again puts minors at risk of seeing these ads and being influenced. That is why the regulatory measures exist in the first place.

Criticisms of the Joint Gambling Authority

No organization is without critics. The GGL has been the target of scorn by many gamblers and even some operators. One of the major criticism levied towards the organization is that they are responsible for the decline of the German iGaming market. The activity report published by the GGL itself showed that gross gambling revenue dropped from 3.5 billion Euros to 3.2 billion Euros between the first and second quarter of the year. Critics of the State treat and the GGL worry that this trend may continue in the future.

Experts don’t seem worried about any such prospects. The Germany gambling market is expected to exceed 19 billion Euros in revenue by the end of the year. We can compare that to last year’s 14 billion to see that there is a clear rise in gambling online from one year to the next. The Gambling - Germany | Statista Market Forecast drop in the second quarter may be alarming. But there is plenty of reason to believe that things will improve moving forward.