BERLIN – Germany’s gambling regulator is warning that the country’s illegal betting market continues to expand, estimating that roughly 23% of all online gambling activity is occurring outside the regulated system.
The Gemeinsame Glücksspielbehörde der Länder, or GGL, said in a new report that channelization — the share of players and spending directed to licensed operators — stood at 77.03% in 2024. The remaining share, the regulator said, is controlled by unlicensed platforms.
The GGL estimates that black‑market gross gaming revenue reached €547 million last year, up 17% from €466 million in 2023. The agency noted that such figures are inherently imprecise because illegal operators do not disclose financial data, but said the findings align with its previous assessments.
“The scientifically calculated channeling rate confirms our previous assumptions about the size of the black market,” GGL CEO Ronald Benter said. “The results support the fact‑based regulatory approach within the framework of the 2021 Interstate Treaty on Gambling.”
The study, conducted by the Blockchain Research Lab, surveyed 2,000 people who had gambled online in the previous year, excluding lotteries. Respondents listed the platforms they used and reported average stakes and losses. Researchers then classified operators as licensed or unlicensed using GGL data and other sources, supplementing the survey with behavioral tracking and proxy measures.
The report found that users of unlicensed sites reported higher average losses — €88.96 per session, compared with €77 on licensed platforms. Tipico, Bet‑at‑home, Betano and Bwin were the most commonly used regulated brands, while Stake.com, WooCasino and PlatinCasino were among the most frequently cited unlicensed operators.
The GGL said the findings highlight the difficulty of measuring and combating illegal gambling activity and called for expanded monitoring tools, including machine‑learning systems and transaction‑analysis methods, along with repeated consumer surveys.
