Berlin Takes Chair of German Gambling Regulator Ahead of Treaty Review

Berlin Assumes Rotating Leadership of German Gambling Regulator – Interstate Treaty Review Set to Shape Market Oversight

Key Takeaways

• Christian Hochgrebe became Chairman of the Administrative Board of Germany’s gambling regulator GGL on 1 July.
• The chairmanship rotates annually among representatives of the German federal states.
• The Interstate Treaty on Gambling 2021 is set for its first comprehensive statutory review.
• The review will assess advertising rules, deposit limits and customer protection measures but not the EUR 1 online slot stake limit.
• The regulator reports intensified enforcement against illegal operators, including action targeting hosting and payment service providers.

Rotating Leadership Reflects Germany’s State-Based Gambling Oversight

Christian Hochgrebe assumed the rotating chairmanship of the Administrative Board of the German gambling regulator, the Gemeinsame Glücksspielbehörde der Länder (GGL), on 1 July. He succeeds Sandro Kirchner, who led the board during the previous term.

The annual change in leadership reflects Germany’s constitutional structure. Responsibility for gambling regulation lies with the Länder, not the federal government. As a result, the chairmanship of the GGL Administrative Board rotates each year between representatives of the federal states. This system is designed to ensure that the regulator’s strategic direction aligns with Germany’s cooperative model of state governance.

For operators and users, this structure means that gambling supervision in Germany remains rooted in state coordination rather than centralized federal control. The Administrative Board plays a key role in setting strategic priorities and overseeing the authority’s work.

Interstate Treaty on Gambling 2021 Faces First Statutory Review

Hochgrebe takes office at a pivotal moment. The GGL is preparing for the statutory review of the Interstate Treaty on Gambling, known as GlüStV 2021. This will be the first comprehensive assessment of the framework since it entered into force in 2021.

The upcoming review will examine whether core provisions remain fit for purpose after five years of implementation. Policymakers are expected to assess rules on gambling advertising, deposit limits, customer protection obligations and broader responsible gambling measures.

However, the evaluation is not expected to revisit two defining restrictions of the treaty. The EUR 1 stake limit on online slot games will remain in place. Broader product restrictions that apply to Germany’s regulated online gambling market are also not part of the review scope.

For licensed operators, this signals continuity in key product limitations. For users, particularly those engaging with online slot offerings, the existing stake cap will continue to define the regulated environment.

Regulator Highlights Enforcement Against Illegal Gambling

Outgoing Chairman Sandro Kirchner stated that his tenure focused on strengthening the institutional foundations of the GGL. According to his remarks, the regulator completed key personnel appointments and expanded its digital capabilities to enhance supervisory processes.

Kirchner also reported a significant intensification of enforcement against illegal gambling. Measures targeted not only offshore operators but also hosting providers and payment service providers connected to unauthorized offerings. By focusing on infrastructure and payment channels, the regulator sought to disrupt access to illegal gambling services targeting German consumers.

At the same time, the regulatory framework for licensed operators was refined. Kirchner said these adjustments were intended to increase the attractiveness of legal offerings. The stated objective was to improve channelisation, meaning to guide consumers toward regulated platforms rather than unlicensed providers.

For international operators and payment intermediaries, these developments underscore that enforcement activity in Germany extends beyond direct licensing. Service providers connected to gambling operations can also come under scrutiny.

Political Scrutiny and Legislative Agenda Ahead

The Interstate Treaty review is expected to be closely monitored within Germany and across Europe. Political scrutiny is also emerging from within the governing Christian Democratic Union party.

Incoming Chairman Hochgrebe stated that the GGL enters its next phase with stable governance structures but faces an ambitious legislative agenda. Alongside overseeing the Interstate Treaty review, he identified two principal priorities: further development of supervision over licensed operators and continued efforts against illegal structures.

These priorities indicate that both compliance oversight and enforcement will remain central to the regulator’s work. For licensed operators, this suggests ongoing refinement of supervisory standards. For offshore operators targeting German users without authorization, enforcement pressure is likely to remain a key feature of the regulatory environment.

GGL board member Ronald Benter emphasized that cooperation between the authority and Germany’s federal states is based on mutual trust and support. He stated that the regulator is prepared for a challenging year under Hochgrebe’s leadership and committed to consistent and effective supervision of the German gambling market.

Implications for Licensed Operators and Users

The statutory review of GlüStV 2021 will determine whether adjustments are made to advertising restrictions, deposit caps and customer protection duties. These areas directly affect how operators can market their services, structure player accounts and implement responsible gambling controls.

At the same time, the decision not to revisit the EUR 1 stake limit on online slots confirms regulatory stability in one of the most debated elements of the German framework. Operators offering slot products in the regulated market will continue to operate under this constraint.

For users comparing licensed and unlicensed platforms, the GGL’s intensified enforcement against hosting and payment service providers signals that access to offshore offers may face additional disruption. The regulator’s stated objective remains to channel consumers toward approved, supervised providers.

Our Assessment

The appointment of Christian Hochgrebe as Chairman of the GGL Administrative Board coincides with the first statutory review of the Interstate Treaty on Gambling 2021. The review will focus on advertising, deposit limits and customer protection rules, while leaving core product restrictions such as the EUR 1 online slot stake limit unchanged. At the same time, the regulator reports expanded enforcement against illegal operators and related service providers. Together, these developments define the current direction of German gambling oversight and set the framework for regulatory supervision in the coming year.