The German Gambling Licensing Authority (GGL) was established under Germany’s Fourth State Treaty on Gambling, effective from June 2021. It recently replaced the Saxony-Anhalt State Administration Office, which previously handled illegal gambling activities across the country. Starting from January 1, 2023, GGL will be responsible for regulating all gambling activities in Germany.
The president of the German Sports Betting Association (DSWV), Mathias Dahms, expressed hope that GGL will be able to address the challenges posed by the unregulated black market. Dahms emphasized the need to create a fair and secure gambling market, as the black market has grown significantly in recent years.
In a market study conducted by the association, it was found that there are 507 unlicensed operators compared to the 36 licensed operators under the Fourth State Treaty on Gambling. Dahms stressed the importance of GGL ensuring an attractive range of products for licensed operators on the legal market, as this can help prevent players from migrating to the unregulated black market.
Last week, the Sachsen-Anhalt State Administration Office announced that it had approved nine additional licenses for virtual slot machines and poker in Germany, in addition to the three licenses already issued to Mernov, Tipwin, and Mybet.