Germany: Gemeinsame Glucksspielbehorde der Lander

Regulated by the Gemeinsame Glucksspielbehorde der Lander (GGL). Licensed operators in Germany.

What GGL stands for

GGL stands for Gemeinsame Gluecksspielbehoerde der Laender, an Anstalt des oeffentlichen Rechts. In English that is the Joint Gambling Authority of the Federal States, a public law institution.

It is the licensing and supervisory authority for gambling that runs across German state borders.

What the regulator licenses

The GGL licenses and supervises cross-state gambling under the Interstate Treaty on Gambling 2021.

That covers virtual slot machine games, online poker and sports betting.

Gambling confined to a single federal state remains with that state authority.

How to check a licence on the register

The list is the Whitelist, the official overview of permitted gambling providers, published under section 9 paragraph 8 of the Interstate Treaty on Gambling 2021. The link is in the sources below.

Search the provider name or the domain. The Whitelist is an interactive tool and was redesigned in November 2024.

A result tells you that the provider holds a German permit and which products it may offer. A site that is not on the Whitelist is not permitted to offer gambling in Germany.

Licence number format

The GGL does not publish a permit number in the Whitelist. The Whitelist confirms the provider and the permitted products.

Our operator records for Germany therefore carry GGL-unverified, which means the number is not published rather than missing.

Verification for a German permit is a name or domain match on the Whitelist.

Complaint route

Casino deadline: Internal complaints procedure first.

Where to escalate next: Civil courts for money claims.

The GGL states it does not handle civil claims such as payment of a balance or recovery of losses. Its portal covers illegal gambling and advertising.

The GGL states it does not handle civil claims such as payment of a balance or recovery of losses. Its reporting portal covers illegal gambling and advertising.

GGL at a glance

ItemDetailPublished by the regulatorNotes
AcronymGemeinsame Gluecksspielbehoerde der LaenderYesPublic law institution, AoeR
RegisterWhitelist of permitted providersYesInteractive tool
Licence number formatNot publishedNoRecorded by us as not published
Rules on player disputesNoYesCivil courts decide money claims

Frequently asked questions

What does GGL stand for in Germany?

GGL stands for Gemeinsame Gluecksspielbehoerde der Laender, the Joint Gambling Authority of the Federal States. It licenses gambling that runs across German state borders.

How do I check a German gambling licence?

Use the GGL Whitelist, the official list of permitted providers published under the Interstate Treaty on Gambling 2021. Search the provider name or domain.

Can the GGL make a German casino pay me?

No. The GGL states it does not handle civil claims such as payment of a balance. Money claims go to the civil courts.

Sources