Sandro Kirchner, currently serving as State Secretary in the Bavarian Ministry of the Interior for Sport and Integration, has officially taken over as chairman of the GGL (Gemeinsame Glücksspielbehörde der Länder) board of directors.
He replaces Reiner Moser, who led the authority over the past year in his role as Head of the Ministry of the Interior, Digitalisation, and Municipalities for Baden-Württemberg.
During Moser’s leadership, the GGL solidified its role as the central regulatory body for Germany’s online gambling sector. He guided the agency in intensifying its efforts against illegal gambling while promoting a secure, transparent environment for licensed operators. Moser highlighted the fast-paced evolution of the online gambling landscape and praised the board and staff for responding effectively, particularly through strong inter-state cooperation.
As the new chairman, Kirchner aims to increase enforcement efforts and strengthen international partnerships. He emphasized the importance of disrupting the profitability of illegal gambling operations and enhancing consumer protections, aligning with the broader political agenda to tighten digital oversight and support compliant platforms.
The GGL’s recently published 2024 Activity Report outlines these priorities. The authority processed 230 licensing applications or amendments and supervised 141 approved operators. Major sports events led to heightened regulatory scrutiny due to increased betting and advertising activities.
A significant milestone in 2024 was the validation of the GGL’s “Markers of Harm” system, designed to detect early signs of problem gambling. The Mainz Administrative Court upheld the legality of these indicators, marking a key step toward nationwide standardization in player protection.
The GGL also expanded its campaign against unlicensed gambling. It launched 231 prohibition orders and examined over 1,700 websites. About 450 of these were taken offline via enforcement actions, while another 657 were geo-blocked under the EU’s Digital Services Act. Payment blocks further disrupted financial channels for illegal operators.
Despite progress, concerns linger over the actual size of Germany’s unregulated gambling market. While the GGL estimates that 25% of online gambling takes place outside licensed frameworks, industry groups argue the figure could be considerably higher. A 2023 study by DOCV and DSWV indicated that just over half of online gambling activity occurred via licensed providers.
Some industry voices remain critical. Christian Heins, Tipico’s iGaming Director, questioned the GGL’s report timelines in a LinkedIn post, citing inconsistencies between published enforcement claims and actual implementation data.
