The German gambling regulator says unregulated gaming accounted for a quarter of the total online market in 2024.
Gemeinsamen Glücksspielbehörde der Länder (GGL) said the illegal German-language operator websites it recorded last year were worth between €500m and €600m.
That translated to between three and four per cent of the land-based market and to 25 per cent of the online market for games such as slots and sports betting.
The regulator’s 2024 report also revealed that the legal market, both land-based and online, generated gross gaming revenue of €14.4bn, up around five per cent on 2023. Tax and levy revenues reached approximately €7bn.
The providers regulated by the GGL generated approximately €4bn in revenue, it said, corresponding to a 28 per cent share of the legal market.
The German gambling market has been a key one to watch for industry stakeholders, especially over the size of the illegal market.
"Our measures are having an impact. Nevertheless, combating illegal offerings remains challenging and requires perseverance and close cooperation with national and international partners," said Ronald Benter, CEO of the GGL.
The GGL added that its work with Google Ads, limiting only regulated operators to using the system, has “significantly reduced the visibility of illegal offers.”
The regulator issued 230 permit and amendment applications and supervised 141 providers.
A total of 231 prohibition orders were initiated and over 1,700 websites were reviewed.
This led to around 450 illegal operator sites becoming inaccessible from Germany, while another 657 became inaccessible through geo-blocking.
