Germany’s Federal Addiction and Drug Commissioner Hendrik Streeck has called for stronger action against illegal gambling in the country, arguing that enforcement is currently too weak.
He pointed to legal loopholes, particularly around slot machines, where winnings are not automatically paid out by the machine but instead are secretly handed over by staff. These machines can also be disguised as entertainment devices, making it difficult to prove that gambling is taking place.
Streeck noted: "We're not talking about a few harmless slot machines in a back room. We're talking about organized crime, money laundering and substantial profits at the expense of people suffering from addiction."
" We should examine whether simply setting manipulated or unauthorized machines should be more consistently prosecuted.’’
Streeck says Germany faces a massive enforcement problem in tackling illegal gambling, arguing that stronger controls, better federal-state cooperation and more consistent prosecution are needed.
He also calls for improved tools to identify organised networks, secure evidence and shut down illegal operations more quickly, including both backroom machines and illegal online gambling.
Some estimates suggest Germany now has around 160,000 legal gambling machines, while between 60,000 and over 100,000 machines are believed to be operating illegally.
Streeck is not the first person to raise concerns about illegal offerings in the country. Others, mostly industry figures, predictably argue that overly strict regulations are pushing players towards illegal alternatives.
Previously, Merkur Vice Chief Executive Manfred Stoffers said strict rules are driving customers away from regulated venues.
Meanwhile, Georg Stecker, spokesperson for the German Gaming Machine Industry Association (DAW), said in a meeting with Brandenburg politicians that regulation should support the licensed industry, while echoing Stoffers illegal gambling concerns.
In March, a large-scale raid against illegal gambling in Berlin led to the seizure of 120 slot machines
