Glücksspiel (GGL), the Federal Authority of Gambling in Germany, is ready to expand the central monitoring system of LUGAS (Länderübergreifendes Glücksspielaufsichtssystem).

Activated in 2023, LUGAS serves as the main data and transactional monitoring system of Germany’s interstate gambling regime (GlüStV). Of regulatory significance, LUGAS is designed to monitor the cross-operator customer depositing thresholds – currently set at €1,000 per month across all online licences.

The authority confirmed this week that it will continue the next phase of the platform’s development in partnership with Dataport, a Bundestag (federal government) sanctioned IT service provider responsible for the technical maintenance of LUGAS and its statutory duties. 

Presenting an overview, GGL disclosed that in 2025, LUGAS processed data from more than 60 licensed operators and approximately five million registered players, providing regulators and Germany’s 16 federal states with an increasingly detailed picture of player behaviour, operator activity and market trends.

“We are continuously driving the development of LUGAS forward,” said Ronald Benter, Chief Executive of GGL.

“This makes it all the more important to have a partner like Dataport at our side, a company that reliably meets the high demands of a complex and safety-critical IT system.

“A stable and high-performance IT infrastructure is of particular importance, especially in light of major sporting events like the FIFA World Cup.”

LUGAS to centralise Interstate controls

The announcement signals that Germany’s gambling regulator is placing greater emphasis on data-driven supervision as it prepares for the next stage of reviewing the country’s online gambling framework.

For GGL, LUGAS has evolved beyond a compliance tool into the technological backbone of the interstate regime as the key system to maintain market compliance and conduct of GlüStV licences. 

Dataport is one of Germany’s largest public-sector technology providers, delivering digital infrastructure and cloud services to federal and state administrations. 

“LUGAS is one of the most demanding digitisation projects in the regulatory environment,” said Dr Johann Bizer, Chief Executive of Dataport.

“Together with GGL, we are continuously developing the systems and creating the conditions for reliable data-based decisions.”

The regulator added that from 2027 the analytical capabilities of LUGAS will be expanded further, enabling greater use of secure-server data to evaluate regulatory outcomes and support future policy decisions.

No change on deposits limits

As of July 2026, the GGL has permitted interstate gambling licence holders to increase the maximum online slot stake from €1 to €5.

However, operators may only apply the higher stake limit after cross-checking a customer’s activity through LUGAS and verifying that the individual has never been registered on the OASIS national self-exclusion system for problematic  gambling behaviours.

The baseline cross-operator deposit limit remains €1,000 per calendar month across all licensed platforms. Customers seeking to deposit beyond that threshold can only do so through an enhanced approval process, with operators required to submit individual applications supported by detailed documentation verifying the customer’s source of funds.

Approved customers may receive permission to deposit up to €10,000 per month, though the higher threshold remains subject to regulatory scrutiny and ongoing monitoring through LUGAS.

The deposit monitoring system continues has distinguished Germany from most other regulated European markets. Yet Interstate licences have called for the GGL to review thresholds that have severely impacted the channelisation of the online casino in Germany, stating that high-value have chosen not to engage with licensed operators.

Evidence before any deregulation

The latest investment also offers an indication of how GGL intends to approach the forthcoming statutory review of Germany’s interstate gambling framework.

As Germany prepares for its next major review of gambling legislation, regulators appear intent on ensuring future policy decisions are increasingly informed by empirical evidence rather than industry or political opinion alone.

Industry trade bodies, most notably the DSWV (sports betting) and DOCV (online casino), have repeatedly called for a review of restrictions affecting the competitiveness of Germany’s regulated online casino market, arguing that current product limitations continue to push consumers towards unlicensed operators.

However, GGL’s latest statements suggest its immediate priority lies elsewhere: improving the quality of market intelligence generated by LUGAS to measure channelisation, player protection outcomes and standard compliance.

Critics argue that the GGL’s view of the market has become increasingly constrained by its reliance on centralised monitoring systems such as LUGAS. As such, GGL lacks insights on players that have migrated to black market websites, with several organisations providing evidence that Germany’s online gambling channelisation rate has now fallen below 50%. 

In July the chairmanship of the GGL was transferred to the City Lander of Berlin. Governance duties are to be overseen by secretary Christian Hochgrebe as Chairman.

Trade bodies and gambling licences have called on Hochgrebe to amend GlüStV review proposals to ensure Lander and Bundestag officials are made aware of current regime failings that are clearly visible.