The Current State of the German iGaming Market and Its Role in Europe

The State Treaty on Gaming 2021 has brought extreme changes to the German gambling market online. The GlüStV dictates new restrictions and policies that many have criticized as being far too strict. There are those who view the new regulations as stifling; and fear that they might bring about the end to the German iGaming market and its international impact.

Others believe that GlüStV is a breath of fresh air in government regulation. They have heaped praise on Germany for taking an active role in strictly regulating one of the fastest-growing entertainment markets in Europe. The goal in releasing this controversial treaty was to reduce irresponsible gambling and enhance the safety standards employed by German casinos. This has put Germany on the iGaming map so to speak. Some are wondering how the current German market is going to impact the rest of Europe.

A Crackdown on Illegal Operators

One of the primary reasons for GlüStV existence is to crack down on illegal operators. The Joint Gambling Authority of Germany has been using the new treaty to bring down unlicensed and unregulated online casinos in the country for the past couple of years. They really hit their stride last year when they took down over two hundred rogue sites from the Google search results. The organizations CEO claims that there is still a lot more work to be done in this regard.

The treaty has been instrumental in empowering the GGL. It makes a clear distinction between licensed and legal websites like Wildz Casino; and rogue operators who exist without any sort of regulation or permit at all. There are still over 800 of these websites operating in Germany according to GGL’s activity report from last year. The company’s CEO has called for international co-operation in order to take down as many illegal gambling websites as possible. He believes that without such co-operation the mission’s success is unlikely.

It seems that the GGL’s call to action has been effective. The Spanish and French government have both taken steps in combatting illegal operators. The Spanish DGOJ has recently blocked fourteen illegal operators; sending a message that unlicensed and unauthorized platforms will not be accepted any longer. France’s ANJ has recently established a department dedicated to fighting against illegal gambling as well. It seems that Germany has led the way in the fight against rogue operators in Europe.

The State of German iGaming

One of the goals of the new treaty is to create a more transparent market. The GGL has decided that they must follow their own standards if they are to build trust with German gamblers. The current year marks the first time that the organization has released a quarterly activity report. The first quarter of 2025 saw an incredible start for German iGaming. Gambling websites generated a revenue of 3.5 billion Euros. But the second quarter shows a serious drop.

The GGL’s activity report has confirmed that total stakes in the German iGaming market have dropped to 3.22 billion Euros. The marked decline is hitting sports betting sites and online poker rooms as well. Online poker rooms have seen a major decline as well. They’ve gone from a total stake of 204 million Euros to 184 million. Slots are the only iGaming property to see a marginal increase in revenue. A lot of German gamblers have pointed their fingers towards the GGL and the State Treaty on Gaming as the root cause of the decline.

It is possible that the new strict regulations have a lot to do with the declining revenue in Germany iGaming. But statisticians don’t believe that there is any cause to fret. They expect that the gambling market will reach over 19 billion Euros by the year’s end. The drop that we’ve seen is likely a rash response to the new regulations. Gamblers will grow accustomed to the new state of German iGaming soon enough. The market will likely turn around as soon as that takes place.

Safety Standards in German iGaming

Part of the reason that the new regulations even exist is to ensure a new standard for safety in German iGaming. That includes a focus on responsible gambling education. The state treaty calls on gambling websites to include pages dedicated to the topic. The sections must outline exactly what it means to play responsibly and give players a fresh outlook on the subject. Transparency is also a big focus of the treaty; which ties in quite well to safety in German iGaming.

Advertisement has also been greatly affected by the GlüStV. The GGL has prohibited online casinos from advertising during prime family hours. The goal is to ensure that impressionable viewers will not be exposed to any sort of marketing regarding online gambling. The decision could help curb underage gambling online. There are also restrictions on advertisement during live sporting events; as these are usually viewed by the whole family as well.

Sponsorships are also heavily regulated by the government. German laws prohibit sports personalities and influencers to take on iGaming-based sponsorships. Some have criticized the law as being too restrictive. But it is not nearly as tight as the UK’s new ban on Premier League clubs promoting online sportsbooks and casinos. We can only assume that the blow to German gambling will not be so hard considering the United Kingdom has one of the most developed iGaming markets in Europe with greater restrictions.

What to Think About

The current state of German iGaming is at a strange precipice. The new laws are certainly impacting the profits made by the gambling industry on the net. But they are also ensuring a safer and more reliable industry for German players. The GGL and iGaming operators have shown greater transparency in the past year and a half than ever before. The financial blow to the industry might just be a minor setback that is going to fix itself in due time. We only need to wait and hope for the best; as experts already believe that everything will sort itself out by year’s end.