GGL 2024 Review Highlights Enforcement Wins

Imagine a year where illicit gambling shrinks under relentless pressure from a determined regulator.

GGL asserts its success in blocking illegal operators, launching public warnings, and forging critical alliances.

Envision a secure market, fortified by cutting-edge geo-blocking and robust payment restrictions, ensuring fair play for all.

Dive into GGL’s annual review, learn about the progress made, and discover the roadmap for 2025’s tighter oversight.

GGL’s 2024 Leap Forward: Big Wins Against Illegal Gambling Despite Mounting Challenges

3 Key Points

1. Payment Blocking and Advertising Restrictions: GGL partnered with payment service providers and Google to combat illegal operators.
2. Public Warnings: This new supervisory tool heightens transparency for licensed operators’ violations.
3. Future Outlook: GGL eyes enhanced international cooperation and digitisation to bolster market regulation in 2025.

GGL Reports Progress and Challenges in 2024

The German gambling regulator (GGL) has published its annual review, detailing victories in the fight against unauthorised gambling. Yet, the authority also highlights the continued difficulties it faces amid a rapidly evolving digital landscape. According to Board Member Ronald Benter, consistent measures and strong partnerships remain central to curbing the illegal market.

During 2024, GGL introduced a series of measures to clamp down on rogue operators. Notably, it leveraged payment-blocking tools, limiting illegal businesses’ access to vital financial systems. Additionally, it expanded geo-blocking capabilities, aligning with the Digital Services Act to deny unlicensed sites access to German-based users. In a move underscoring the regulator’s clout, GGL forged a collaboration with Google, ensuring that gambling ads target only licensed operators.

Moreover, GGL took firm positions in public policy debates. The regulator’s engagement spanned Criminal Code reform discussions to concerns about amateur sports betting. These actions underline its intent to shape regulations beyond the commercial sphere, tackling legal and ethical questions around gambling.

Confronting market integrity, GGL cooperated with payment service providers to block illegal transactions. This strategy gained momentum following October’s favourable ruling by the Halle Administrative Court, which backed the regulator in a case against a Swiss payment service provider. Such legal precedents help fortify GGL’s position when challenging other potential violators.

October 2024 marked the unveiling of public warnings—a new tool aimed at enhancing oversight and transparency. Whenever a licensed operator breaks rules, GGL issues warnings to inform both the public and industry stakeholders. This tactic puts noncompliant brands on notice while reinforcing consumer confidence in the regulated sector.

Furthermore, GGL broadened its educational outreach. It launched an FAQ section on its website, clarifying topics such as licensing protocols, illegal gambling indicators, and standard player protections. By simplifying the complexities of regulations, GGL aims to assist players, operators, and the broader public in understanding the scope of legal gaming.

Despite these successes, challenges persist. Black market activity remains a concern, although GGL believes industry estimates might be exaggerated. To gather hard evidence, the regulator has commissioned studies that will measure the scope of these illicit operations. The findings, expected by late 2025, should offer data-driven insights crucial for aligning resources more effectively.

Looking into 2025, GGL plans to improve international cooperation. Exchanging knowledge with foreign regulators will help it address cross-border issues in today’s interconnected gambling world. The authority will also explore digitisation efforts, streamlining processes to detect and halt illicit gambling in real time.

Additionally, GGL awaits results from commissioned studies on player protection, advertising practices, and market channelling. These findings will feed into the ongoing evaluation of the State Treaty on Gambling 2021. By gauging how well the treaty aligns with modern practices and technology, GGL can propose refinements to keep Germany’s gambling environment both competitive and secure.

As 2024 draws to a close, GGL stands firm in its pursuit of a regulated and safe gambling environment. The regulator’s recent moves—such as payment blocks, strict geo-blocking, and new public warnings—demonstrate a resolve to eradicate illegal operations. Although challenges remain, GGL’s focus on international cooperation and digitisation signals even more potent enforcement in 2025.