Online gambling in Germany: What to expect in 2025

By iGB

Dr Wulf Hambach and Phillip Beumer from Hambach & Hambach share their thoughts on player claims cases and regulatory adjustments, two key challenges in Germany today.

When the Interstate Treaty on Gambling (Glücksspielstaatsvertrag) came into force in Germany on 1 July 2021, it was presented as a turning point for the regulation of online gambling. Daniel Hagemeier, a member of the governing CDU party in North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW), highlighted its importance by stating:

“The Interstate Gambling Treaty and our implementation in NRW must strike a balance between state regulation and freedom. We must protect people with a high potential for addiction from the temptations of gambling, but respect the freedom of each individual to gamble if they so wish. Our aim is not to demonise gambling and drive it into obscurity, but to channel it.”

Now, nearly four years later, this balance remains elusive. The treaty has succeeded in creating a legal framework, but its implementation is fraught with challenges. In 2025, the focus is on two critical areas shaping the online gambling sector: Player claims and regulatory adjustments.

Read the whole article on iGB