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GGL Publishes its 2024 Activity Report

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The GGL has published its 2024 Activity Report, which reviews key developments and achievements of the past year. The report explains the approach to combating illegal gambling as well as the activities related to the supervision of legal gambling providers. A key component of the report is also an analysis of market developments in the German gambling market.

Last year, the GGL processed 230 permit and amendment applications and supervised 141 providers. The authority faced a variety of regulatory, legal and supervisory challenges. Major events such as the UEFA European Football Championship and the Olympic Games, in particular, resulted in increased advertising and betting activities, necessitating increased monitoring.

A milestone in 2024 was the court approval of the “Markers of Harm” developed by the GGL. These indicators were developed for monitoring increased deposit limits and were first used in 2024. They serve as an early detection of problematic gambling behaviour. The Mainz Administrative Court confirmed their legal admissibility. The GGL sees this as an important step towards uniform player protection standards.

In 2024, the GGL successfully took action against illegal offerings and was able to make the offerings of numerous illegal providers inaccessible to players in Germany. A total of 231 prohibition proceedings were initiated and over 1700 websites were reviewed. Approximately 450 illegal gambling sites were no longer accessible from Germany due to prohibition orders, and another 657 were no longer accessible due to geo-blocking based on the Digital Services Act (DSA). Payment blocking made deposits and withdrawals for illegal offerings more difficult.

Another success was the adjustment of Google’s advertising guidelines at the initiative of the GGL. Since September 2024, only authorized providers in Germany have been allowed to advertise via Google Ads. This significantly reduced the visibility of illegal offers.

“Our measures are having an impact. Nevertheless, combating illegal offerings remains challenging and requires perseverance and close cooperation with national and international partners,” said Ronald Benter, CEO of GGL.

According to GGL estimates, illegal online gambling accounts for approximately 25% of the total online gambling market.

The legal German gambling market (online and land-based) generated gross gaming revenue (equivalent to players’ losses) of approximately €14.4 billion in 2024—an increase of approximately 5% over the previous year. Tax and levy revenues from gambling amounted to approximately €7 billion.

The providers regulated by the GGL generated approximately four billion euros, which corresponds to a 28% share of the total permitted market.

In the illegal market, the GGL registered 858 German-language gambling websites operated by 212 operators without a license. The GGL estimates that the illegal German-language websites it recorded represent a market volume of between €500 and €600 million. This corresponds to approximately 3% to 4% of the entire legal market (terrestrial and online) and approximately 25% of the legal market for dangerous online gambling, such as virtual slot machines or sports betting.

In 2025, the GGL expects further groundbreaking court rulings on its measures, thus providing even greater legal certainty in its approach. The authority will continue to support the evaluation of the 2021 State Treaty on Gambling and, among other things, further expand advertising monitoring. The further development of the use of safe servers is intended to further improve oversight of the legal gambling market and enable more precise monitoring. A particular focus is on intensive cooperation with national and international authorities to further effectively curb the illegal gambling market. This will target not only the providers themselves, but also technical service providers, advertising partners, and other supporting actors.

Ronald Benter said: “Our stated goal is to make the business model of illegal providers unattractive through a comprehensive package of measures. Combating illegal offerings remains a long-term process that requires strategic action, decisive action, and close interagency cooperation.”

The post GGL Publishes its 2024 Activity Report appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

Andrzej Hyla Chief Commercial Officer at Wazdan

Wazdan ready to exhibit as gain-focused partner and exhibitor at SiGMA Central Europe

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Wazdan, the leading gain-focused developer, is ready to make its mark at the upcoming SiGMA Central Europe summit in Rome, taking place from 4th to 6th November at the Fiera Roma.

Italy represents one of Europe’s largest untapped online gambling markets, with total gambling revenue currently standing at an estimated €16 billion. Currently, only 25% of the market operates online, leaving €12 billion in offline revenue waiting to be unlocked.

Situated at stand 4040, Wazdan will be on hand to showcase the company’s Online gaining™ formula, featuring its captivating portfolio with over 250 certified games translated in more than 30 languages across 25 regulated markets.

Attendees will have the chance to experience the highly anticipated Mighty Wild™: Gorilla release, while the recently launched Cash Grotto™, 16 Coins™ x5000 and Mighty Crown™: Legacy of Mars will also be on show, with all experiencing impressive early performances with the studio’s operator partners globally.

Turning attention to Wazdan’s industry-renowned network promotions, those in Rome will also benefit from invaluable insight into the upcoming multi-stage €6,000,000 Network Promotion, which has been built to secure long-term player retention rates during the busy festive period.

Beyond the product showcasing and prize giveaways, Wazdan views the summit as a key opportunity to strengthen regional partnerships and deepen its engagement with Italy’s thriving iGaming sector.

The event’s prominence on the global industry calendar makes it a natural fit for Wazdan’s ambitions to lead the way in compelling slot innovation and partner-focused growth.

Andrzej Hyla, Chief Commercial Officer at Wazdan, said: “SiGMA Central Europe is a fantastic opportunity to connect with partners and share how our Online gaining™ formula continues to drive measurable growth.

“We are delighted to be acting as a partner throughout the three-day summit, and look forward to shedding light on how our powerful game mechanics and retention tools can help partners accelerate their success in this dynamic market.”

The post Wazdan ready to exhibit as gain-focused partner and exhibitor at SiGMA Central Europe appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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Central Europe

TaDa to Round Off Exceptional Year at SiGMA Central Europe 2025

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TaDa Gaming is anticipating its final show of 2025 at the SiGMA Central Europe Expo this 4-6 November. Taking place for the first time at Fiera, Rome, Stand 4062 will host the innovative provider’s full teams from Account Management, Business Development and Marketing.

With a 200+ portfolio of innovative games including TaDa’s unique fish-shooting titles, the team’s focus at SiGMA will be on regulated European markets and slots.

Successful licence applications include MGA; Hellenic Gaming Authority; Romania’s ONJN; Sweden’s Spelinspektionen; and the UKGC. With certification for multiple markets now including Portugal, TaDa’s signature localisation, innovation and future-proof approach to iGaming is paying dividends.

Multiple new integrations are ongoing across Europe, enhanced by TaDa’s most recent distribution agreement with Light & Wonder Inc. With an existing presence in Italy, Belgium and Portugal, TaDa’s reputation for engagement and retention has been reinforced with its new trademarked series Hit the Cash.

The interplay of Multipliers, Lock & Respin and Jackpots as the Hit the Cash signature, added to the random triggering of the jackpots and additional multipliers including Wilds, has meant players cannot get enough of these titles.

Visitors to the TaDa’s Experience Zone at Stand 4062 are guaranteed a winning experience. Hit releases Joker Coins and Fortune Coins 2 will be the headline slots, alongside the industry changing fish-shooting games such as the vampire rock’n’roll led Ocean King Jackpot and new release Fortune Zombie 2.

Ray Lee, Director of Business Development at TaDa Gaming, said: “SiGMA Rome is looking to be a fantastic final show in a year full of highly professional and profitable exhibitions for us. As we continue to build our name for safe, immersive and innovative gaming across Europe, we’re excited to reconnect and connect with clients and future clients to show how we deliver significant differentiation for their operations.”

The post TaDa to Round Off Exceptional Year at SiGMA Central Europe 2025 appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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Belatra

Belatra set to unearth ancient treasures at SiGMA Central Europe

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Belatra Games, the specialist online slots developer, is thrilled to announce its participation at the SiGMA Central Europe Expo in Rome, Italy. The event is being held at the Fiera Roma from November 3rd to November 6th, providing Belatra with the perfect chance to showcase its latest legendary slots and front-line solutions.

Belatra’s beloved Mummy will be visiting Rome as the character continues to strike a chord with audiences worldwide. Its unique blend of humour, mystery, and quirky antics has transcended cultures. The character made its debut in 2022 for the release of Mummyland Treasures and has since grown into an extensive multiverse encompassing various formats, special features, and spin-offs, which form the core of our very own flagship game universe.

At SiGMA Central Europe, visitors to Belatra’s Booth #4071 will be able to immerse themselves at the heart of the Mummy Universe. There will be a themed experience that brings the magic and the mystery of our beloved multiverse to life. Special prizes are also on offer from the Mummy’s own treasure vault.

Kateryna Goi, Belatra CMO said:  “SiGMA Europe provides the perfect platform to connect with existing and potential collaborators. Our team is more than ready to present custom solutions, our robust technical infrastructure, and game designs to ensure player involvement and operator success.”

The post Belatra set to unearth ancient treasures at SiGMA Central Europe appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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