Action Against Illegal Gambling in Germany
GGL enforcement instruments, 2024 results and criminal law
Last verified: 2026-09-20
The GGL uses prohibition orders, network blocks, payment blocking and criminal complaints against unlicensed gambling; in 2024 it filed 23 criminal complaints and started 231 prohibition proceedings.
Action against illegal gambling
Overview
Public gambling in Germany requires a licence; taking part in unlicensed gambling is itself punishable, and offering it carries up to two years in prison (up to five if commercial or by a gang). Since 1 July 2022 the GGL has been responsible for combating illegal online gambling and advertising for it. Its instruments are prohibition proceedings with coercive fines, criminal complaints, administrative-offence proceedings, reports of possible tax and money-laundering offences, network blocks and payment blocking.
In 2024 the GGL filed 23 criminal complaints and initiated 231 prohibition proceedings; 459 illegal sites became unreachable through prohibition proceedings, 657 through network blocks and 165 lost payment options through payment blocking. The Higher Administrative Court of Saxony-Anhalt confirmed the payment-blocking approach in 2023. A study cited by the GGL puts the share of unlicensed online gambling at 23% in 2024. On 17 September 2026 the GGL welcomed a Frankfurt prosecutors investigation into unlicensed offers.
| Measure (2024) | Value | Verified against primary source | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Criminal complaints filed | 23 | ✓ | For offering or advertising illegal gambling (§ 284 StGB) |
| Prohibition proceedings initiated | 231 | ✓ | 83 against illegal operators and their advertising, 148 against advertising only |
| Providers or advertisers that stopped after hearings or orders | 96 | ✓ | GGL figure for 2024 |
| Websites reviewed | 1788 | ✓ | 1,053 gambling sites and 735 advertising sites |
| Illegal sites unreachable through prohibition proceedings | 459 | ✓ | GGL figure for 2024 |
| Illegal sites unreachable through network blocks | 657 | ✓ | GGL figure for 2024 |
| Illegal sites without payment options through payment blocking | 165 | ✓ | Sites where no payment was possible via common payment service providers |
Enforcement instruments and 2024 figures. [1]
Frankfurt prosecutors investigation, 17 September 2026. [2]
2024 study on the share of unlicensed online gambling. [3]
Key facts
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Verified
The GGL fights unlicensed gambling with prohibition proceedings and coercive fines, criminal complaints (§ 284 ff. StGB), administrative-offence proceedings, reports of possible tax and money-laundering offences, network blocks (IP blocking) against access providers, and payment blocking against payment service providers.
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Verified
In 2024 the GGL filed 23 criminal complaints and initiated 231 prohibition proceedings (83 against illegal operators and their advertising, 148 against advertising only); 96 providers or advertisers stopped after hearings or prohibition orders, and 1,788 websites were reviewed.
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Verified
In 2024, 459 illegal websites became unreachable from Germany through prohibition proceedings and 657 through network blocks, and 165 illegal gambling sites lost the ability to take payments through common payment service providers (payment blocking).
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Verified
The Higher Administrative Court of Saxony-Anhalt confirmed the GGL's payment-blocking approach in a decision of 26 October 2023 (Az. 3 M 72/23).
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Verified
On 17 September 2026 the GGL welcomed an investigation success by the Frankfurt am Main public prosecutor's office against unlicensed gambling offers; according to published information, stakes of about EUR 5.86 billion were processed between July 2021 and the end of 2023, and the GGL says it shares findings from payment blocking, network blocks and action against advertising with prosecutors.
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Verified
Taking part in unlicensed gambling is itself punishable (§ 285 StGB); offering it without a licence carries up to two years in prison (§ 284 StGB), and up to five years if done commercially or as part of a gang.
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Verified
A scientific survey study cited by the GGL puts the share of unlicensed online gambling at 23% in 2024, a channelisation rate of 77%; the GGL says its Tätigkeitsbericht 2025 therefore reports no separate 2025 figure for the illegal market.
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Verified
Responsibility for combating illegal online gambling and advertising for it has been with the GGL since 1 July 2022.
Gemeinsame Glücksspielbehörde der Länder (GGL), Land Sachsen-Anhalt (Staatskanzlei)
Sources
- Gemeinsame Glücksspielbehörde der Länder (GGL)Primary source — Bekämpfung unerlaubten Glücksspiels und Werbung dafür — https://www.gluecksspiel-behoerde.de/de/bekaempfung-illegales-gluecksspiel/unerlaubtes-gluecksspiel
- Gemeinsame Glücksspielbehörde der Länder (GGL)Primary source — GGL begrüßt erfolgreichen Schlag gegen illegales Glücksspiel in Milliardenhöhe — https://www.gluecksspiel-behoerde.de/de/news/ggl-begruesst-erfolgreichen-schlag-gegen-illegales-gluecksspiel-in-milliardenhoehe
- Gemeinsame Glücksspielbehörde der Länder (GGL)Primary source — GGL veröffentlicht Tätigkeitsbericht 2025 — https://www.gluecksspiel-behoerde.de/de/news/ggl-veroeffentlicht-taetigkeitsbericht-2025