Central Europe
Number of companies and employees in German games industry falls for first time in years
After years of growth, the number of companies and employees in the German games industry declined in 2025. This was announced today by game – The German Games Industry Association on the basis of data from gamesmap.de in cooperation with Goldmedia. According to the data, the number of companies in Germany that develop and/or publish games has dropped by 4 per cent within the past year, to 910. The boom in start-ups in the games sector, which was set in motion by the introduction of the German Federal Games Funding Programme in 2020, has now completely subsided. Last year’s figures already indicated a clear slowdown. This decline was due in particular to the consolidation of the global games market and the unreliable availability of games funding to date in Germany.
Three times since 2020, there have been months-long suspensions placed on funding applications. Despite the newly registered drop, the number of companies has risen by 46 per cent overall since the initial start of the games funding programme in 2020. Of the 910 present companies, 454 work exclusively in game development and 52 exclusively as publishers. The remaining 404 companies are active in both the development and publishing of games.
‘Last year was another very difficult one for the German games industry,’ says Felix Falk, Managing Director of game. ‘Germany’s international competitiveness was further decreased by the ongoing flip-flopping of the games funding policy, which ran right into the consolidation wave that swept the global games sector. Fortunately, the new federal government has already taken the necessary steps to level the playing field for companies in this country. The future funding budget is to be increased and thus adjusted to actual needs, and applications can be submitted from August onwards. These are crucial growth impulses that are urgently needed. The additional funds will not only give companies more planning security, but also time to implement additional tax breaks for games, as set out in the coalition agreement between the CDU, CSU and SPD. The improved conditions will finally give games companies a boost, which will hopefully soon be reflected in more start-ups and the creation of new jobs.’
The number of employees at games companies in Germany has also declined over the last year. Whereas game developers and publishers employed 12,408 workers in 2024, the current figure stands at just 12,134 – a drop of 2 per cent. As with the number of companies, the employee numbers had previously shown strong growth since the introduction of the games funding programme at the federal level: a rise of 23 per cent from 2020 to 2024. The recent decline indicates that the current conditions for the games industry, which offer limited scope for planning due to the repeated funding application stoppages and significant current funding restrictions, are having an impact on the job market. A year ago, there were still more companies with ongoing projects that were internationally competitive thanks to funding at levels comparable to those in other countries – financing that had stabilised Germany’s game sector, despite the global consolidation wave and a lack of funding certainty for the industry here. The game industry secures a total of over 30,000 jobs in Germany. In addition to jobs in development and publishing, these include, for example, skilled professionals in educational institutions, the media and the public and commercial sectors.
About the data
The data is drawn from a survey carried out by Goldmedia on the basis of entries on gamesmap.de. It was conducted on behalf of game – The German Games Industry Association for the period ending on 12 May 2025.
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Barbie Nerz Head of Online Games at Staatliche Toto-Lotto GmbH Baden-Württemberg
Peter & Sons Partners with Staatliche Toto-Lotto GmbH Baden-Württemberg for German Market Entry
The innovative iGaming studio Peter & Sons, based in Barcelona, has enhanced its presence in Europe by entering a new partnership with erwin, the virtual slot platform of Staatliche Toto-Lotto GmbH Baden-Württemberg, a prominent and well-established gaming operator in Germany.
Established in 1948, Staatliche Toto-Lotto GmbH Baden-Württemberg has earned a solid reputation for dependability, integrity, and creativity in Germany’s regulated gaming industry. The operator is key to the nation’s lottery landscape and is enhancing its digital entertainment services with authorized online gaming products. Since 2023, Staatliche Toto-Lotto GmbH Baden-Württemberg provides virtual slot games at www.lotto-bw.de/erwin. Here, you can explore a diverse range of fun and appealing slots that are refreshed frequently.
Additionally, Staatliche Toto-Lotto GmbH Baden-Württemberg seeks to provide gambling products in its range that cater to the changing requirements of its customers. By doing so, the organization emphasizes trust and safety. Ensuring adherence to measures for the protection of youth and players is consequently a foremost concern.
Famous for its collection of art-focused games, unique characters, and captivating game environments, Peter & Sons has gained global acclaim for advancing the limits of creativity in slot design.
Yann Bautista, Founder and Commercial Director at Peter & Sons, said: “We are delighted to partner with Lotto Baden-Württemberg, an operator that has earned enormous trust within the German gaming community. Germany represents an important regulated market for us, and working with such a respected partner allows us to introduce our games to a broad audience of players who appreciate high-quality entertainment and distinctive design.”
Barbie Nerz, Head of Online Games at Staatliche Toto-Lotto GmbH Baden-Württemberg: “Peter & Sons has developed a reputation for producing visually striking and highly engaging games, and we are excited to welcome their portfolio to our platform. Our goal is always to provide players with diverse, high-quality content, and this partnership represents another step forward in expanding the entertainment experiences we offer.”
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Central Europe
Sportradar Extends its Data and Audiovisual Betting Rights Agreement with Deutscher Fussball-Bund
Sportradar Group AG announced a multi-year extension of its data and audiovisual (AV) betting rights agreement with Deutscher Fussball-Bund (DFB), the German Football Association. The rights were originally secured as part of the company’s acquisition of IMG ARENA in 2025.
Under the renewed agreement, Sportradar acquires exclusive data and streaming betting rights for Germany’s prestigious cup competition, DFB-Pokal, worldwide outside of the DACH region, in addition to non-exclusive global media data rights. For the first time in this competition, skeletal data will be introduced to fuel fan engagement products in the same way Sportradar provides for partners including UEFA, Bundesliga and the NBA.
The deal represents the first direct agreement between the parties relating to DFB’s premium cup competition. The new agreement begins at the start of 2026/2027 c and Sportradar will cover all 63 DFB-Pokal matches per season. Sportradar and DFB have previously enjoyed a longstanding partnership including content production and editorial services.
With global Gross Gaming Revenue in soccer betting expected to increase by approximately 50% over the next four years, Sportradar is uniquely positioned to support its clients capture further market share through next generation, hyper-personalized, hyper-immersive experiences.
Sportradar continues to innovate in soccer, combining deep data with proprietary AI technology to create new dynamic betting products such as micro markets and live player markets, which its sportsbook operator clients can leverage to engage customers and generate more revenue.
Moritz Gloeckler, EVP of Rights and Strategic Projects at Sportradar, said: “Our extension of the agreement with DFB is a key addition to our already strong portfolio of global soccer rights. With more than five billion soccer fans worldwide, there’s massive appetite for content. Through partnerships with FIFA, UEFA, AFC, Bundesliga, CONMEBOL and more, Sportradar is well positioned to create the next generation of tech driven products and services for clients to use to engage fans, reach new audiences and open fresh revenue opportunities.”
Kay Dammholz, Director Media Rights at DFB GmbH & Co. KG, said: “With this agreement, we are further advancing the international media rights distribution of the DFB-Pokal. Together with Sportradar, we are ensuring a professional and safe global distribution of our betting streaming rights outside the DACH region, while upholding the highest standards of integrity and unlocking additional commercial potential for our premium cup competition.”
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Wazdan, the results-oriented developer, has further grown its notable European presence through a partnership with Casino Interlaken, a top operator in Switzerland.
The collaboration offers players at Casino Interlaken’s StarVegas.ch online platform access to Wazdan’s dynamic slot collection, showcasing its best-selling Coins
and Hot Slot series, which emphasize engaging gameplay mechanics and consistently achieve high retention rates for compliant operator partners throughout Europe.
Inaugurated in 2020 by the renowned land-based Casino Interlaken, StarVegas.ch has emerged as a prominent online provider of engaging slot games, with its collection enhanced by numerous feature-rich titles from top global suppliers.
In addition to Wazdan’s launches, players at StarVegas.ch will be presented with the studio’s engagement-enhancing features, such as Hold the Jackpot, Cash Infinity, Collect to Infinity, Sticky to Infinity and Cash Out, which consistently enhance the slot experience with innovative improvements to gameplay.
Wazdan’s newest partnership strengthens its dedication to collaborating with reputable brands in regulated markets across the globe. Players throughout Switzerland are poised to gain from an enhanced content selection by merging its top-notch portfolio with StarVegas.ch’s standing for outstanding entertainment and technical proficiency.
Radka Bacheva, Head of Sales at Wazdan, said: “StarVegas has built a strong reputation for premium entertainment, making it a fantastic platform for our vast range of titles and engagement tools. Combining the company’s strong market positioning with our rewarding experiences ensures we can deliver measurable growth and rewarding entertainment for players nationwide.”
Mayke Wolf, Chief Operating Officer at StarVegas, said: “As one of the first licensed Swiss online casinos, StarVegas offers a wide selection of games from leading international providers. Players can access the full portfolio via Starvegas.ch as well as through the StarVegas mobile apps, which are among the most popular casino apps in Switzerland. With the addition of Wazdan’s content, StarVegas further expands its portfolio with innovative titles and new gaming highlights. This step underlines StarVegas’ commitment to continuously developing its offering and providing Swiss players with a diverse and high-quality online gaming experience.”
Oliver Grimm, Chief Executive Officer at Casino Interlaken, said: “Casino Interlaken stands for personal service and Swiss quality in the heart of the Alps, values that we carry into the online space with StarVegas through a technologically advanced and trusted platform. By partnering with Wazdan, we are further enhancing our offering with innovative slot content that delivers engaging experiences for players across Switzerland.”
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