German regulator Gemeinsamen Glücksspielbehörde der Länder (GGL) works hard to prevent illegal gambling in the country. The Joint Gaming Authority of the Federal States updated the audience about the progress made regarding the licensing procedure and fighting against illegal gambling at the annual gaming symposium.

Adjustments that need to be made:

The symposium was held on March 14th and 15th at the University of Hohenheim, and Ronal Benter, the authority’s Board Member, spoke. He said: “We are well on the way to creating an attractive legal market. The majority of permit applications have been approved. Nevertheless, we still see insufficient cooperation on the part of online gambling providers. This applies to both the payment of security deposits and defects in the individual games submitted in the field of virtual slot machines. This delays the permitting process and prevents faster channeling from the illegal to the legal market. We pull together with the providers willing to legalize and together pursue the goal of creating a level playing field while complying with the protection of players and minors. But we would like to see more effort on the part of the providers here.”

The authority was found three months ago, and the results have already started to show. However, the main problem is the lack of cooperation from online gambling providers in Germany. 

The authority has the right to take measures if any violation is noticed. There are included advertising regulations, and the five-digits fine is already issued for one company this month. 

However, the main focus is the fight against illegal gambling. Some providers have already balked, while others are expected to do so. The company cooperates with many payment service providers that work towards reducing the deposit options for all illegal offers, making participation in such events difficult and nearly impossible.

However, all the conducted actions were related to urgent situations, and the remaining ones are still on hold. 

Problems related to sports betting:

DSWV, the German sports betting association, revealed the results from last year, showing that the popularity of legal sports betting in Germany decreased in 2022. The main reason lies in strict regulations, which increased interest in illegal sports betting. 

It’s up to the Joint Gaming Authority to regulate the market and find a solution to this problem. The authority has to create a safe environment for bettors and regain the popularity of legal sports betting in the country.

Benter said: “The GGL is picking up speed in the fight against illegal gambling, including in the area of ​​sports betting and related advertising. We will make success measurable on the basis of the data collected at GGL.”

Currently, the authority is negotiating with stakeholders about adjustments that need to be made. They will work towards incorporating the improved and adjusted State Treaty regulation that was established in 2021.