SBC News

Glücksspiel (GGL), Germany’s Federal Gambling Authority, has warned the Bundesländer (federal states) to treat the threat of illegal online gambling as a serious public health risk.

The warning comes ahead of the GGL’s annual Gambling Addiction Action Day (24 September), with the regulator urging state agencies to scrutinise offers and advertising that promote unlicensed providers.

As Ronald Benter, CEO of the GGL, explained: “Illegal platforms do not offer effective player protection mechanisms. Anyone who plays there runs a significant risk of developing a gambling addiction.”

The Action Day is held under the patronage of Prof. Hendrik Streeck, the Federal Government’s Commissioner for Addiction and Drugs, and this year carries the motto “Gambling Harms – Recognise, Name, Avoid.”

The 2025 campaign includes a symposium for state authorities to exchange best practices in treating gambling harm, while also reminding consumers to consult the GGL’s whitelist of licensed operators under the Fourth Interstate Gambling Treaty (GlüNeuRStV).

Commissioner rings alarm on Gambling Addiction
As patron of the campaign, Prof Streeck used the Action Day to provide a stark update on gambling addiction. He noted that 1.3–1.4 million adults are already addicted, with a further 3.5 million at risk.

Around 600,000 minors live with at least one gambling-addicted parent, facing neglect, depression, anxiety, and financial insecurity. Streeck warned that gambling disorder remains one of Germany’s most common addictions, often hidden for years and devastating for families.

Yet headline figures mask a deeper challenge. Experts agree that Germany has significant liabilities in how it measures and interprets gambling harm. There is no academic consensus on how to separate play on licensed versus unlicensed sites, or how to quantify the true social cost.

GlüNeuRStV has no accountability
Nearly three years since the GlüStV 2021 came into force, the federal regime remains troubled by divisions on data and exposure to black market threats.

The GGL’s Third Annual Activity Report estimated that unlicensed operators accounted for 25% of the online gambling market in 2024. Official figures put total legal stakes at €8.2bn, up slightly from €7.9bn the year before.

For the German Sports Betting Association (DSWV), this represented long-overdue transparency but not accuracy. Chairman Mathias Dahms argued the black market share is far higher, “exceeding 50%” according to studies such as the influential Schnabl report.

One alarming statistic was that the number of illegal German-language sports betting websites jumped 36% from 281 to 382 in a year, against just 34 licensed sites on the GGL whitelist.

“The ratio of legal to illegal sites is around 1 to 11,” Dahms said. “Illegal providers benefit from offering wider markets, especially in live betting, which is immensely popular. This is precisely why many users switch.”

The dispute reflects a broader question over Germany’s restrictive model. Licensed operators are bound by stringent rules including €1 maximum stakes on online slots, strict deposit caps, narrow bet types and heavy ad restrictions.

Critics argue that these restrictions make the legal market less appealing. By contrast, illegal sites exploit demand for in-play betting and broader wagering options.

This gap undermines channelisation, the treaty’s core goal of steering players into the regulated market. Critics say that since GlüNeuRStV’s inception, true accountability has been paused, with conflicting statistics fuelling a stalemate between regulator and industry.

GGL hands tied
The GGL, for its part, has pressed ahead with enforcement. Since 2023 it has implemented geo-blocking under the EU Digital Services Act, expanded payment blocking, and lobbied Google to restrict ads to licensed operators. But enforcement is resource-intensive: by late 2024 the GGL was defending 189 lawsuits, many brought by operators challenging licence decisions and restrictions.

The regulator leans heavily on the GlüNeuRStV Atlas compiled by the University of Bremen, but these figures are refuted by the German Online Casino Association (DOCV), which argues they understate the black market and misrepresent consumer behaviour.

Anxieties on Interstate direction
Underlying these disputes is a constitutional reality: the GGL enforces, but cannot legislate. Any reform — whether on advertising, sponsorship, deposit limits or product scope — requires Bundestag approval, and political opinion remains divided.

Betting on amateur football has already triggered state-level disputes over integrity and oversight, while also prompting operators like Interwetten to pull wagering markets on amateur sports.

Looking ahead, 2026 is expected to bring a federal law on gambling advertising and sponsorship, likely the next battleground. Until then, both sides invoke player protection: the GGL through uniform restrictions, and the DSWV by demanding a legal market strong enough to outcompete the black market.

As Dahms put it: “With this figure, the GGL is creating more transparency for the market and the public. Fact-based debates are only possible if we have access to reliable official figures—we expressly welcome this step.”

Clarity has not yet delivered consensus. Germany’s online gambling market remains a divided house, with addiction concerns, black market leakage, and regulatory rigidity leaving the future of the Interstate model uncertain.

Swedish state-owned operator Svenska Spel is celebrating a major milestone for its contributions towards public health in the country.

The operator’s independent research council has passed the SEK 100 million (£8m) mark for funding research on problem gambling and harm prevention, while simultaneously observing its 15-year anniversary since its inception in 2010.

In addition, a total of six new projects have been approved to tap into a collective fund valued at SEK 5m for research purposes.

Sara Lindholm Larsson, Research Council Chair, said: “It is a favour and a privilege to be able to contribute to the development of knowledge and evidence in this important subject.

“Through research, we can better understand what drives unhealthy gaming and which interventions really have an effect.”

Anders Håkansson is the researcher who will get the most out of this year’s communal grant, a total of SEK 1m, to explore the future prospects of gambling harm-related care procedures, as well as the suicide prevention.

Another equally valued project is that of Olof Molander, which will analyse the implementation of internet-CBT for gambling disorder and comorbidity.

Elisabet Jerlhag Holm is another stand-out participant thanks to her project researching the correlation between gambling addiction and GLP-1 – a medication first developed against diabetes but which has also shown promise in fighting compulsive behaviours.

Emma Claesdotter-Knutsson will receive a grant of SEK 750,000 to evaluate the effects of family programmes within social services on youth gaming participation rates.

Sabina Kapetanovic will also utilise SEK 750,000 in funding to focus on underage demographics, particularly mid-adolescents and how gambling affects their mental health.

And last but not least, Johan Svensson has secured a SEK 700,000 grant to provide a wider and up-to-date public health perspective on gambling in Sweden.

Anna Johnson, President and CEO of Svenska Spel, concluded: “Passing SEK 100m in research support shows that we are serious about our long-term responsibility.

“The research has provided new knowledge about everything from young people’s gambling habits to how healthcare can be developed – insights that make society better equipped to prevent gambling problems and create safer gambling.”

Ireland’s leading banks have pledged to take stronger action on gambling-related harm with the launch of a new framework designed to standardise support for vulnerable customers.

The Irish Banking Culture Board (IBCB), in partnership with its member banks AIB, Bank of Ireland and PTSB, has unveiled the Common Commitment of Care for Problem Gambling.

The initiative sets out practical steps to help those affected by gambling addiction, including dedicated support lines, trained staff, voluntary debit card blocking, and referrals to trusted organisations such as Gambling Care and MABS.

A banking response to a growing concern
Research suggests that almost all gambling activity in Ireland is digital, with 90% of transactions occurring online and 99% of those paid for by debit card. The IBCB argues that voluntary card blocking is therefore a critical safeguard, giving customers the tools to regain financial control if they feel that they are losing it.

Meanwhile, a recent ESRI study also estimates that about one in 30 Irish adults suffer from problem gambling. That works out to roughly 130,000 adults in Ireland with a gambling problem.

Marion Kelly, CEO of the IBCB, said: “Problem gambling can cause serious harm to individuals, families and communities. IBCB member banks recognise their responsibility to respond with compassion and practical support when customers reach out for help.

“This Common Commitment of Care ensures that anyone experiencing gambling difficulties will find clear, accessible support to assistance through their bank.

“The introduction of a voluntary card block by AIB, Bank of Ireland and PTSB will make an important contribution to those experiencing problem gambling and IBCB calls on other financial services players to put in similar measures.”

Political and regulatory backing
The launch event at the Dublin Chamber of Commerce was attended by Minister of State Robert Troy T.D. of the Department of Finance, as well as representatives from the Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland, the problem gambling treatment organisation Gambling Care, and senior figures from the three banks.

Minister Troy praised the move, stating: “I commend the Irish Banking Culture Board and its member banks for taking this important step to address the issue of problem gambling. By working together to provide meaningful support, the banking sector is contributing positively to consumer protection.

“This Common Commitment of Care is a valuable addition to the broader efforts being made across government and society to tackle gambling-related harms. The Government has committed to tackling problem gambling, through the Gambling Regulation Act and the establishment of the Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland, and sectoral cooperation remains key to achieving our aims.”

Building consistency and trust
The IBCB said the Common Commitment of Care is intended to provide consistent standards across the banking sector while directing customers to expert resources such as Gambling Care’s 24/7 helpline and MABS’s debt and budgeting services.

By uniting the country’s largest banks under one framework, the initiative aims to strengthen public trust in financial institutions and demonstrate their role in tackling wider social challenges.

The IBCB and its members said they hope that by collaborating with government, regulators and support organisations, the new framework will contribute to lasting and positive change in how gambling-related harms are addressed in Ireland.

Latvia will restructure its gambling oversight and introduce sharp tax increases across the sector as part of the 2026 state budget, in measures designed to boost revenues and streamline regulation.

Finance Minister Arvils Ašeradens confirmed this afternoon that the Izložu un azartspēļu uzraudzības inspekcija (IAUI), the Lottery and Gambling Supervision Inspectorate, will be integrated into the State Revenue Service (SRS) on 1 April 2026, earlier than previously scheduled.

The move, endorsed by Prime Minister Evika Siliņa’s cabinet, aims to reduce duplication between the two agencies and strengthen fiscal control as Latvia prepares for higher gambling duties.

“The integration of gambling oversight into the State Revenue Service will allow us to establish unified management faster, make better use of our resources and deliver higher-quality services to the public,” Ašeradens told a government briefing.

The government has framed the reforms as part of a broader “tax raid” on adult sectors to secure new revenues for state priorities. The 2026 budget earmarks €565m in additional spending, with €320m for security, €94.8m for family support, and €45m for education, financed through both tax hikes and spending cuts across ministries.

From 1 January 2026, gambling taxes will rise significantly. The annual rate per gaming machine will increase from €6,204 to €7,440, while roulette, card and dice tables will be taxed at €40,440 per year, up from €33,696.

The tax rate for telephone games of chance, betting and wagers will climb from 15% to 18% of revenue, bingo will increase from 10% to 12%, and interactive gambling will rise from 12% to 15%.

According to Finance Ministry estimates, these measures will generate an additional €9.2m, of which €9bn will go to the state budget and €175,000 to municipalities.

The budget also confirms steep increases in tobacco excise duties, with 5% rises planned in 2026 and 2027 and an average 15% hike in 2028, excluding cigars, cigarillos and e-liquids.

Alcohol duties will also be raised, including an additional €15 per 100 litres of absolute alcohol on spirits from March 2026, followed by a 10% increase on all alcoholic beverages, including beer, from March 2028.

A new 10% excise duty has been added to the fiscal package, though observers caution that it may be reconsidered depending on the outcome of the October 2026 elections.

By merging the IAUI into the SRS, the government intends to consolidate licensing, tax collection, enforcement and anti-money laundering oversight within a single authority.

Officials argue that this will cut administrative burdens, eliminate overlapping processes, and provide greater transparency in public administration as Latvia tightens its fiscal regime for 2026–27.