Central Europe

German games market grows by 17 per cent in 2021

Published

4 years ago

April 12, 2022

Reading Time: 3 minutes

The German games market has followed up its historic growth spurt in 2020 with yet another year of significant growth: in 2021, approx-imately 9.8 billion euros in revenues were generated from games, charges for online services and games hardware. This is an increase of 17 per cent com-pared to the previous year. Already in 2020, the German games market was able to grow by 32 per cent, which was due in part to the growth in new video game players that resulted from the Covid-19 pandemic. These are the numbers released today by game – the German Games Industry Association, based on data collected by the market research companies GfK and data.ai. The demand for games hardware, particularly for games consoles (+23 per cent) and acces-sories for gaming PCs (+22 per cent), as well as in-game and in-app purchases (+30 per cent), was the biggest driver of growth.

According to Felix Falk, Managing Director of game: ‘Following the historic growth spurt in 2020, the German games market continued its strong perfor-mance with significant growth in 2021. This also demonstrates that the people who first took up playing during the lockdowns are still enjoying it. We are partic-ularly delighted by the strong growth in games hardware. No matter whether they are using games consoles or gaming PCs, Germany’s video game players once again invested considerable sums in their equipment to ensure that they would be able to continue enjoying their games in the best possible quality in future. In fact, demand in some cases exceeded supply, meaning that it would have been possible to increase sales revenue by even more.’

Games, games hardware and charges for online services: all three market segments posted growth once again

Sales revenue from purchases of computer and video games grew by 19 per cent to about 5.4 billion euros. So-called in-game and in-app purchases were once again the biggest driver of growth here, with sales revenue increasing by 30 per cent overall to about 4.2 billion euros. This is happening in response to a sustained trend towards free-to-play games, as well as a general increase in the length of time that individual titles are being supported with the frequent addition of new free and charged content. Sales revenue from the once-only purchase of games, on the other hand, fell significantly, by 9 per cent to about 1.1 billion eu-ros. Sales revenue through monthly subscription charges for individual games – a model that is common among online role-playing games – also fell, by 11 per cent to 145 million euros.

Sales revenue from games hardware grew by 18 per cent overall to about 3.6 billion euros. Games consoles are in particular demand: although retailers were often sold out of some models, sales revenue still managed to increase by 23 per cent to 808 million euros. Approximately 1 billion euros were generated from sales of gaming PCs – both desktops and laptops. This is an increase of 10 per cent compared to the previous year. More and more video game players are also investing in accessories to make their experience even better. Demand for graphic cards, keyboards, mice, monitors and VR headsets for gaming is espe-cially strong. Sales revenue from purchases of gaming PC accessories grew by 22 per cent to about 1.5 billion euros. Sales revenue from games console ac-cessories increased by 11 per cent to 306 million euros.

Following a huge 50 per cent leap in growth in 2020, sales revenue generated by online gaming services rose by an additional 4 per cent to 720 million euros in 2021. Gaming subscription services such as the Xbox Game Pass, EA Play and Ubisoft+ made a key contribution to this growth, with their sales revenue increas-ing by 22 per cent to 220 million euros. Cloud gaming services, on the other hand, experienced a decline of 13 per cent to 63 million euros. One of the rea-sons for this is the fact that some cloud gaming functions have been integrated into other services free of charge, meaning that no independent sales revenues are generated for these functions. Sales revenue from online gaming services also fell, by 2 million euros to 437 million euros. These are frequently offered for various games consoles and include – depending on the specific offer – free monthly games, games discounts, the ability to play online, or even cloud stor-age for saved games.

Central Europe

ZEAL launches Dream Car Raffle charity lottery in Germany

Published

2 weeks ago

April 14, 2026

Wladimir P.

zeal-launches-dream-car-raffle-charity-lottery-in-germany

ZEAL has launched Dream Car Raffle (Traumautoverlosung), a new charity lottery offering in the regulated German gambling market. The company said the product is developed in-house and adds to its portfolio alongside its lottery brokerage business.

Traumautoverlosung is operated by Dreamify gGmbH, a wholly owned subsidiary of ZEAL, while marketing and sales is handled by Lotto24 AG, also part of the group. ZEAL said the launch follows the Dream House Raffle (Traumhausverlosung) introduced in 2024 and freiheit+, making Traumautoverlosung its third charity lottery in Germany.

“With Traumautoverlosung, ZEAL continues its strategy of complementing its traditional lottery brokerage business with proprietary products, targeting new customer segments and reducing its dependence on jackpot-driven cycles of state lotteries,” the company said. Stefan Tweraser, CEO of ZEAL Group, added: “We are pleased to further expand our core business with attractive new products. Traumautoverlosung is another step towards diversifying our portfolio and reaching new target groups.”

ZEAL said Traumautoverlosung is structured with a limited number of tickets and a guaranteed winner. At launch, a Porsche 911 GT3 RS will be raffled, with a total of 250,000 tickets available. “With Traumautoverlosung, we are focusing on cars that are otherwise out of reach for many people – highly desirable models that are often difficult to obtain on the market,” said Michael Lee, founder of Traumautoverlosung. “Our goal is to translate this demand into a transparent, digital product with clearly defined mechanics.”

As a charity lottery, the product allocates at least 20 percent of ticket revenue to charitable causes, according to ZEAL. The company said the initiative will partner with Johanniter in 2026.

The post ZEAL launches Dream Car Raffle charity lottery in Germany appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

Best Slot Developer

Amusnet Named Best Slot Developer at GamingTECH Awards 2026

Published

3 weeks ago

April 7, 2026

Wladimir P.

amusnet-named-best-slot-developer-at-gamingtech-awards-2026

Amusnet has been awarded the title of Best Slot Developer at the GamingTECH Awards 2026, marking a notable acknowledgment of the company’s innovative and technical prowess. Unveiled on March 25th in Prague at the 10th-anniversary edition of the Prague Gaming & TECH Summit, this recognition emphasizes the influence of the company’s varied, high-achieving slot collection throughout Central and Eastern European markets.

This accolade highlights the organization’s capacity to provide a diverse array of titles that satisfy the changing needs of both operators and players. By prioritizing technical dependability, dynamic animations, and captivating features, Amusnet has positioned itself as a key partner in the area.

“We are truly honoured to receive the Best Slot Developer award,” commented Julia Peeva-Sertov, CEO & Director at Amusnet Gaming, Malta. “This recognition reflects the dedication of our entire team and our commitment to delivering exceptional gaming experiences for players. Empowering our partners continues to inspire us to push boundaries and set new benchmarks in the industry.”

The Prague Gaming & TECH Summit united industry leaders and top executives to explore the connection between gaming, AI, and fintech. During the event, representatives from Amusnet Gaming participated in strategic networking and high-level discussions within the industry, enhancing connections with partners in the CEE area. Winning this title at a milestone anniversary occasion reinforces the company’s position as an innovative leader in the digital entertainment industry.

The post Amusnet Named Best Slot Developer at GamingTECH Awards 2026 appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

Central Europe

Gaming in Germany Conference returns to Berlin November 10, 2026

Published

4 weeks ago

March 30, 2026

Wladimir P.

gaming-in-germany-conference-returns-to-berlin-november-10,-2026

The Gaming in Germany Conference is set to return to Berlin on November 10, 2026, bringing together key stakeholders from across the country’s regulated online gambling sector. The event will take place at the DoubleTree by Hilton Ku’damm and is expected to once again attract a wide range of industry professionals.

Organised by Gaming in Europe, the annual conference has established itself as a central meeting point for operators, regulators, legal experts, and service providers involved in Germany’s evolving iGaming landscape.

Key Topics on the Agenda

The 2026 edition will focus on some of the most pressing issues facing the German market. A major highlight will be discussions around the evaluation of the GlüStV 2021 (State Gambling Treaty) and its impact on the regulated online gambling environment.

In addition, the conference will cover a broad range of topics, including:

Regulatory developments and compliance
Market growth and competitive dynamics
Player protection and responsible gambling
Marketing strategies in a regulated environment
The role of eSports within the sector

These sessions are designed to provide actionable insights while fostering dialogue between industry participants and regulatory authorities.

Confirmed Speakers

Although the event is still several months away, a strong lineup of speakers has already been confirmed. These include:

Dr. Jörg Hofmann, Senior Partner at Melchers Law
A senior representative from the GGL (German Gambling Authority)
Dr. Dirk Quermann, President of DOCV
Mathias Dahms, President of DSWV
VP Games at ZEAL Network
Prof. Dr. Christian Piska, University of Vienna
Dr. Nepomuk Nothelfer, University of Agder & Melchers Law
Josh Hodgson, COO at H2 Gambling Capital

This mix of legal, regulatory, and commercial expertise ensures a well-rounded perspective on the challenges and opportunities within Germany’s regulated market.

A Key Industry Meeting Point

Willem van Oort, founder of Gaming in Germany, highlighted the importance of the event:

“After last year’s highly successful edition, we are extremely pleased to return to Berlin in 2026. Our goal is to connect the industry with regulatory and social stakeholders. This year, we expect to gain valuable insights into the evaluation of the 2021 State Gambling Treaty and its impact on the market.”

He also emphasized that the conference remains one of the best opportunities to meet key decision-makers in Germany’s iGaming sector.

Registration and Participation

Industry professionals are encouraged to save the date and secure their place early. The event also offers opportunities for speakers and sponsors to get involved and share their expertise with a targeted audience.

With its strong agenda and high-level networking opportunities, the Gaming in Germany Conference 2026 is set to be a must-attend event for anyone active in the German regulated iGaming market.

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