Germany’s gambling regulator, Gemeinsamen Glücksspielbehörde der Länder (GGL), has thanked the public for submitting around 1,500 tips regarding illegal online gambling operators since January 2023. The announcement came before the country’s nationwide event focused on gambling addiction.
Half of the reports involved suspected illegal online gambling, while the other half concerned potential issues with legal operators. The GGL, which took over full responsibility for regulating gambling in 2023, has used these reports along with its own investigations.
The GGL has reviewed over 1,860 websites and looked into 483 gaming providers and advertisers for illegal gambling and marketing practices. This resulted in 113 prohibition orders, with 63 operators stopping their services or pulling questionable ads in 2023.
In addition to illegal activities, the GGL found issues in legal gambling offerings, such as problems with payout systems, inappropriate advertising, and failure to enforce deposit limits.
GGL board member Ronald Benter commended the public’s role, stating, “This initiative raises awareness about the risks of gambling addiction. We all aim to prevent gambling and betting addiction.” He noted that public tips, submitted through the whistleblower system, have been crucial to enforcing player protection rules and combating illegal gambling.
Germany’s Battle with Black Market Gambling
Germany continues to struggle with illegal gambling. While the GGL estimates the black market makes up only 4% of gambling revenue, including land-based activities, the Deutscher Online Casinoverband (DOCV) disagrees. The DOCV claims offshore operators account for about 20% of the online gambling market.
This debate follows a 2023 study from the University of Leipzig, which found that just over half of gambling was channeled through legal platforms.
Although the GGL’s whistleblower system has been helpful, many of the reports lack enough detail to be thoroughly investigated.
Encouraging Public Participation
To improve the effectiveness of public reports, the GGL has published a guide explaining how to use the whistleblower system. This guide helps people identify legal gambling options and provides instructions on submitting a proper report.
The GGL continues to urge the public to use this system. Benter stressed, “Your information is essential in our fight against illegal online gambling and to protect players.”
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