New German regulator starts to grant gambling licences

Around 50 new gaming licences for online slot and poker providers are pending approval by Germany’s new gambling regulator Gemeinsamen Glücksspielbehörde der Länder (GGL).

As a result the official white list of gambling operators in the German jurisdiction lists 25 new providers. Other licences are conditional to payment receipt of a security deposit.  Approximately 600 game permit applications that met the high standard requirements set by GGL were approved.

The objective for GGL this year is to create transparency in the sector and to clamp down on illegal gambling.  The regulator is focusing  in order to protect players and prevent gambling addiction. A public prosecutor’s office has been established by GGL and to date almost 1150 gaming websites have been checked by the regulator.

Almost 300 cases of activity relating to illegal gambling have been reported.

Comment from CEO

Ronald Benter, CEO of GGL said: “We have to conclude that not all of the gaming permits submitted are allowable. Often it fails due to the simplest of requirements, for example, if there are only English instructions for the game. In Germany, we expect better coordination between the providers and studios.”

“We will revoke permits if we find serious violations,” added Benter. “Our goal is a level playing field for all providers. We want to ensure that the business model of offering illegal or non-compliant gambling on the internet is not worthwhile in the long term.”

Background

GGL took over all iGaming regulatory tasks on 1 January 2023. Its remit is to award new gaming licences to allow gaming content operators to provide services in the jurisdiction.  New applications will be investigated under strict scrutiny prior to approval and renewal of permits.