The Joint Gambling Authority of the Länder (GGL), which acts as the German Gambling Commission, has published a warning ahead of Christmas regarding an influx of illegal gambling offers.
Not only are people enjoying time off work over the holidays and therefore have more time for their hobbies, but many experience financial hardship around Christmas time and are therefore more likely to try to win money when the opportunity is presented to them.
The GGL has reiterated the dangers of using illegal casino sites, even unintentionally, citing no "effective youth and player protection, no reliable stake or loss limits and no transparent complaint or payout procedure. In addition, there is an increased risk of data misuse, financial losses and manipulative game mechanisms."
To help the public identify illegal providers and online casinos, the GGL has put together an educational brochure that explains the different design choices and incentives that these platforms use to circumvent legal protection requirements.
The brochure guide is currently available on the GGL website, but the Authority is planning to release a print version in early 2026 to boost player protection and education initiatives.
The GGL has also recently strengthened its cooperation with the Federal Drug Commissioner to boost its player protection initatives.
The brochure mentions foreign URL domains, lack of licensing, no age verification, unusually high bonus or winning promises and no indication of gambling systems such as Oasis as potential red flags
