Germany’s gambling regulator has shut down 63 illegal operators since the beginning of 2023 based on information submitted by the public.
Since January 2023, the Joint Gambling Authority of Germany’s federal states (GGL) has received approximately 1,500 reports of unauthorised gambling activity via its reporting portal, part of the regulator’s whistleblowing initiative.
The German public has been using this tool to report illegal gambling activities such as advertising, violation of payout regulations and irregularities with cross-provider deposit limits.
The majority of the reported illicit activity centred around online slots, online sports betting, commercial gaming agencies, and illegal advertising in each vertical.
Out of the 1,500 reports, the regulator has investigated over 1,860 websites and 438 operators.
Following these investigations, the GGL conducted 133 prohibition hearings, which resulted in the shutdown of the 63 unauthorised operators.
“This initiative is an important contribution to raising awareness of the risks of developing gambling addiction. We have the common goal of preventing gambling and betting addiction,” said GGL board member Ronald Benter.
“The GGL’s job is to ensure that legal providers adhere to the strict rules on player protection and to combat illegal offers. Information from the public submitted via our whistleblower system plays an important role in this.”
Benter also reiterated the regulator’s message to encourage citizens to continue to use the portal to report illegal gambling activity.
“Please use our whistleblower system, report violations and provide as much detail and specific information as possible,” he said. “Your information is an important tool for us in the fight against illegal gambling on the Internet and in ensuring player protection.”