Germany’s Joint Gambling Authority of the Federal States has entered a significant new regulatory phase as Christian Hochgrebe assumes the chairmanship of its Administrative Board ahead of the first full evaluation of the country’s current gambling treaty.
Hochgrebe officially took over the position on July 1, 2026, replacing Sandro Kirchner under the regulator’s annual chair rotation system. The structure reflects Germany’s federal approach to gambling regulation, in which responsibility is shared among the country’s 16 federal states, known as the Länder, rather than being controlled exclusively by the national government.
The leadership transition comes as the authority, commonly known as the GGL, prepares for a statutory review of the Interstate Treaty on Gambling 2021. The treaty established Germany’s current national framework for licensed online gambling and introduced a collection of restrictions intended to reduce gambling harm while directing customers toward regulated operators.
| Review area | Current regulatory position | Issue likely to be examined | Potential market impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Advertising | Licensed operators face extensive restrictions concerning the timing, content and targeting of gambling promotions | Whether the rules adequately protect consumers without preventing legal operators from competing with offshore brands | Changes could affect customer acquisition costs, sponsorship activity and the visibility of regulated platforms |
| Deposit limits | A general cross-operator monthly deposit limit applies to online gambling accounts, subject to defined exceptions and controls | Whether the existing framework is proportionate and sufficiently adaptable to different customer risk profiles | Revisions could alter affordability procedures, account monitoring and operator compliance systems |
| Player protection | Operators must apply identity checks, self-exclusion requirements and responsible gambling controls | Whether current safeguards effectively identify and reduce gambling-related harm | Additional obligations could increase compliance costs but strengthen early intervention |
| Online slots | Online slot stakes are generally capped at €1 per spin, alongside restrictions affecting game speed and product structure | Fundamental product restrictions are not currently expected to be reopened during the evaluation | Licensed operators may continue to argue that strict product rules reduce channelisation toward the regulated market |
| Illegal gambling | Enforcement increasingly targets payments, hosting services and other infrastructure supporting unlicensed websites | Whether the regulator has sufficient legal and technical tools to disrupt offshore operators | Stronger enforcement could improve licensed market participation if illegal platforms become less accessible |
The evaluation is expected to focus heavily on advertising controls, deposit limits, responsible gambling requirements and broader consumer-protection measures. However, some of the framework’s most restrictive product rules, including the €1 maximum stake for online slot games, are expected to remain outside the main scope of potential reform.
The GGL must therefore assess whether the treaty has achieved an effective balance between player protection and market competitiveness. Licensed operators have repeatedly argued that highly restrictive conditions can make regulated platforms less attractive than offshore alternatives, potentially weakening channelisation - the proportion of gambling activity taking place with authorised providers.
The central questions facing the review include:
- whether advertising rules allow licensed companies to distinguish themselves from illegal operators;
- whether deposit and product restrictions remain proportionate under current market conditions;
- whether consumer safeguards are producing measurable reductions in gambling-related harm;
- whether enforcement against offshore operators can be accelerated through payment and hosting disruption;
- and whether regulatory changes are needed to make the legal market more competitive without weakening player protection.
Kirchner’s outgoing term was marked by efforts to strengthen the GGL’s staffing, digital systems and enforcement capabilities. He said action against illegal gambling had intensified, particularly through measures involving hosting providers and the blocking of payments connected to unlicensed services.
The regulator has also adjusted some legal-market conditions as it attempts to improve the appeal of licensed gambling and limit the movement of customers toward offshore websites. Illegal operators remain a major challenge because they can often offer products, bonuses and betting conditions that are prohibited within Germany’s regulated system.
Hochgrebe has indicated that both the treaty review and the suppression of illegal gambling structures will remain leading priorities during his chairmanship. He said the regulator would need to actively examine existing structures and respond to continuing market developments.
Political scrutiny is also expected to increase as the evaluation progresses, with figures from the Christian Democratic Union among those monitoring the process. GGL board member Ronald Benter has said cooperation between the regulator and Germany’s federal states remains based on mutual trust, leaving the authority well positioned for the challenges ahead.
The outcome of the review could shape Germany’s gambling market for years. While a fundamental dismantling of the 2021 treaty appears unlikely, targeted revisions to advertising, deposits, enforcement and consumer safeguards could determine whether the regulated sector becomes more effective, competitive and capable of reducing demand for illegal gambling.