In 2023, the German gambling market returned to its pre-pandemic level for the first time, slightly surpassing the 2019 figures with a market volume of 13.7 billion euros in gross gaming revenue (GGR). In 2024, however, the market showed clear signs of renewed growth, reaching 14.4 billion euros in GGR and marking a significant step beyond mere recovery, according to new figures from the (GGL).
As the data shows, “the largest share of the permitted market is accounted for by slot machines in commercial arcade operations, with €4.9 billion or 34%.” Meanwhile, state lotteries contributed €4.4 billion, accounting for 30% of the regulated market.
Online gambling carves out bigger share
In 2024, online gambling accounted for 24% of total legal gambling revenues, or €3.5 billion. That represents an 18% jump over the previous year.
One of the fastest-growing areas was virtual slot machines and online poker, with the GGL reporting a 38% increase in these verticals.
Online sports betting also saw solid gains, generating €1.3 billion in revenue, a 10% increase compared to 2023.
The structure of the sports betting market is changing, noted the regulator, with a growing preference for live bets. “The ratio between pre-match and live bets was 47% to 53% in 2024,” explained the GGL.
The black market challenge
Despite these positive signals, the black market for online gambling remains a challenge in Germany. Estimates from the GGL place the size of the illegal online gambling market between €500 and €600 million, or roughly 3-4% of the total legal market.
Much of this activity originates from jurisdictions outside the European Union. The report notes, “174 operators from a country outside the EU (of which 152 are from Curacao)” were responsible for the vast majority of illegal gambling websites targeting German consumers.
However, there are indications that regulatory measures are having an effect, claimed the regulator. In 2024 alone, authorities made 459 illegal websites inaccessible through prohibition orders and blocked access to an additional 657 websites via network restrictions.
Still, the report acknowledges that technological cat-and-mouse games, such as the use of mirror sites, complicate enforcement efforts. “This duplication additionally complicates attribution and assessment,” explained the GGL.
In addition to enforcement efforts to combat the black market, the GGL’s strategy has also focused on ensuring a sufficient number of legal alternatives to draw consumers away from illegal providers. As the GGL explained, “A sufficiently attractive legal market is essential for successful channelisation. Our previous experience shows that this has been largely successful.”
