The Joint Gaming Authority of the German States (GGL) has issued a warning against participation in social betting activities, including entertainment betting offered through platforms such as Polymarket.
According to it, these paid betting services are not licensable under current German law and therefore operate illegally.
The authority has observed increased media coverage of social betting activities in recent weeks and months, including reports of betting on outcomes related to the Ukraine conflict.
This growing public visibility of such offerings prompted the regulatory body to issue a targeted warning to inform the population about the legal situation and associated risks.
Social betting refers to wagering on events from public or social life, encompassing political elections, court decisions, natural disasters, social events, and other non-sporting developments. The authority stated that such formats are particularly vulnerable to manipulation as they frequently involve unclear, subjective, or influenceable events.
According to the 2021 State Treaty on Gambling, bets with a high risk of manipulation cannot be approved under the. Only wagers on clearly defined sporting events with verifiable results and transparent rules are permitted.
The GGL also clarified that all other forms of betting are prohibited and cannot be licensed. Organizing, facilitating, participating in, or advertising such illegal betting activities constitutes a criminal offense under German law.
The regulatory authority has identified instances of betting on social and political events across various media channels. In response, it has moved to proactively inform consumers about the legal framework governing such activities.
A whitelist published on the GGL's website is available for German players to check which operators hold valid licenses.
The warning represents part of ongoing regulatory efforts to maintain oversight of gambling activities within Germany's legal framework while informing consumers about authorized versus unauthorized gambling services.
In August 2025, the German gaming regulator (GGL) began publishing quarterly cross-border gambling stakes. Q1 and Q2 data showed total sports betting fell 13.5%, with stationary down 15.6% and online down 12.7%
