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Germany's gambling regulator calls on licensed operators to step up efforts against illegal gambling sites, emphasizing shared responsibility for market integrity.
Mar 2, 2026 · 3 min read
Germany's gambling authority GGL has intensified calls for licensed operators to take greater responsibility in combating illegal online gambling, delivering this message during the ICE Barcelona trade show from January 19-21, 2026.
Speaking at the "Gaming in Germany Breakfast" session, GGL department head Nadja Wierzejewski outlined the regulator's comprehensive approach to tackling the black market. The strategy encompasses prohibition orders, payment and IP blocking, advertising restrictions, and systematic action against all participants in the illegal gambling value chain.
The regulator emphasized that effective enforcement requires targeting every level of illegal operations, from operators to service providers and payment facilitators.
GGL's Multi-Layered Approach
Germany's gambling authority employs a comprehensive enforcement strategy that includes prohibition orders, payment and IP blocking, advertising restrictions, and systematic targeting of all participants in the illegal gambling value chain from operators to service providers.
The GGL issued a direct challenge to licensed operators, arguing they possess unique advantages in the fight against illegal competitors. Licensed operators have extensive market knowledge, value chain influence, and direct relationships with service providers that regulators cannot easily replicate.
"A consistent distancing from illegal offerings and even more diligence in the selection of business partners can significantly strengthen the effect of state measures."
— Nadja Wierzejewski, GGL Department Head
The regulator stressed that licensed operators must exercise greater care when selecting business partners and maintain clear separation from illegal gambling activities.
Licensed operators possess unique market knowledge and value chain influence that regulators cannot replicate, making them essential partners in combating illegal gambling activities.
The authority positioned the anti-illegal gambling campaign as essential for long-term market viability. Beyond regulatory enforcement, GGL emphasized that licensed operators and their service providers are indispensable partners in creating a stable, sustainable legal gambling market.
The regulator's ICE Barcelona presence also facilitated networking with European regulatory counterparts and industry representatives, reinforcing the international dimension of illegal gambling challenges facing German authorities. This collaborative approach mirrors enforcement strategies seen across Europe, as the Dutch KSA sets 2026 agenda with illegal gambling crackdown as a top priority.
International Regulatory Cooperation
GGL's presence at ICE Barcelona reinforced the international dimension of illegal gambling challenges, facilitating crucial networking with European regulatory counterparts to address cross-border enforcement issues.
GGL is implementing prohibition orders, payment and IP blocking, advertising restrictions, and systematic action against all participants in the illegal gambling value chain. The regulator targets every level from operators to service providers and payment facilitators.
Licensed operators should exercise greater diligence in selecting business partners and maintain clear separation from illegal gambling activities. Their unique market knowledge and direct relationships with service providers give them advantages that regulators cannot easily replicate.
According to GGL.
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