The German Federal Joint Gambling Authority (GGL) expresses its gratitude for the ongoing support from the public in identifying violations in illegal gambling activities and legal gambling products.
This recognition coincides with the National Anti-Gambling Addiction Action Day, aimed at raising awareness of the risks associated with gambling addiction.
Since January 1, 2023, the GGL has received approximately 1,500 reports through its reporting system. These reports are evenly divided between suspected illegal online gambling cases and potential violations by legal online gambling providers.
Ronald Benter, a member of the GGL board, commented on these developments, saying: "This initiative has made a significant contribution to raising awareness of the risks of gambling addiction.
"The work of the GGL is to ensure that legal providers comply with strict player protection rules and combat illegal offers. The information submitted by the public through our reporting system plays a crucial role in this."
With the support of public reports, the agency has made significant progress. For example, in 2023, GGL investigated over 1,860 websites and 438 gaming providers and advertisers.
Overall, these investigations led to 133 prohibition procedures and resulted in 63 illegal online gambling providers ceasing operations or advertising.
However, the agency does note that a significant portion of the reports currently lack sufficient evidence for thorough investigation. To address this issue, GGL has published a guide on its website to help reporters provide more meaningful and actionable information.
In this regard, Benter stated: "Please use our reporting system to report violations and provide as many details and specific information as possible. Your information is a vital tool in our fight against illegal internet gambling and ensuring player protection."
