Gemeinsame Glücksspielbehörde der Länder (GGL), the federal authority for gambling in Germany, has begun discussions to deepen federal coordination on player protection, uphold regulation, and combat illegal gambling.

Last Friday, GGL Chair Ronald Benter met with Prof. Dr. Hendrik Streeck, the Federal Government’s Commissioner for Drugs and Addiction, marking the first official exchange between the two institutions.

The meeting centred on strengthening cooperation across government, academia, and prevention bodies to ensure that Germany’s gambling framework continues to balance player safety with effective market channeling.

Benter underlined that the prevention of gambling addiction remains a core mandate of the GGL, which operates through a three-pillar strategy of raising awareness, combatting illegal offers, and monitoring licensed operators for compliance with player protection standards.

“Regulation needs partners,” Benter commented. “The GGL sees itself as an interface between politics, authorities, research and prevention institutions. The challenges in gambling addiction prevention can only be overcome together.”

Discussions also addressed the need to update Germany’s Criminal Code (StGB) to expand prosecution powers against illegal gambling services based abroad, which continue to undermine the legal market.

Both sides agreed that gambling addiction prevention is a shared societal responsibility, requiring evidence-based decisions and consistent enforcement. Benter reaffirmed that the 2021 Interstate Gambling Treaty (GlüStV 2021) provides a stable regulatory foundation, but that any adjustments should be targeted and data-driven.

The GGL and the Federal Drug Commissioner confirmed plans to continue their dialogue, aiming to consolidate research, counselling, and regulatory practice into a cohesive national approach to player protection — ensuring that Germany’s gambling market remains both responsible and sustainable.

Concerns on gambling disorders

In September Prof Streeck addressed state authorities on “the Action Day on Gambling Addiction“. The Federal Commissioner published a report detailing an estimated 1.3 to 1.4 million adults in Germany are already gambling-addicted, with a further 3.5 million at risk. 

Around 600,000 minors live in households affected by a parent’s gambling disorder — a hidden social harm that contributes to neglect, depression, anxiety, and financial distress.

“Gambling addiction remains one of the most common, yet least visible, dependencies in Germany,” Streeck warned, adding that many cases remain untreated for years.

Experts note that these headline figures only hint at a deeper problem. There is no standardised national framework for measuring gambling harm or distinguishing play on licensed versus unlicensed platforms, leaving policymakers with wide-ranging estimates and little consensus on the true social cost.

2026… Germany demands Interstate accountability

Nearly three years since the GlüStV 2021 came into force, the federal regime continues to wrestle with data divisions and black-market infiltration.

At the Gaming in Germany Conference, the GGL confirmed that a full evaluation of the GlüStV 2021 framework will be completed by the end of 2026, marking the most significant checkpoint for Germany’s gambling policy since its inception.

The outcome of this review could determine whether the Interstate Treaty evolves into a more balanced and competitive system — one that maintains strict player-protection standards while addressing the market’s structural weaknesses. 

For operators, the message was clear: with stake limits, deposit caps and advertising rules under increasing scrutiny, 2026 may open the door to pragmatic reforms aimed at restoring channelisation and bringing German players back into the legal market.