Germany’s gambling boom hides a €7 billion black market shadow

Tougher rules were meant to clean up Germany’s gambling scene—but players are fleeing to shady sites. Can regulators ever close the gap?

, and Administrator

2025 December 1 . 7:07 AM

1 min read

At the bottom of the image there is a wooden surface with coins. On the wooden surface there is a... — At the bottom of the image there is a wooden surface with coins. On the wooden surface there is a black cloth with cards and a glass with liquid in it.

Germany’s gambling boom hides a €7 billion black market shadow

Germany’s regulated gambling market generated €14.4 billion in 2024, yet a significant portion of activity remains outside legal oversight. The country’s gambling regulator, the Gemeinsame Glücksspielbehörde der Länder (GGL), estimates that between 25% and 50% of all betting takes place on unlicensed platforms. This black market continues to grow despite stricter domestic regulations introduced in 2021.

The 2021 State Treaty on Gaming (GlüStV) imposed tough restrictions on legal operators, including a €1 maximum stake per slot spin, a €1,000 monthly deposit limit, and a 5% tax on operator stakes. Advertising rules were also tightened to curb excessive promotion. These measures, however, appear to have pushed more players toward unregulated sites.

The German gambling sector remains divided between a tightly controlled legal market and a thriving black market. While regulators continue to crack down on illegal operators, the persistence of unlicensed activity suggests that stricter domestic rules alone may not be enough. International collaboration and adaptive enforcement will likely play a key role in shaping the industry’s future.