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Raids across Frankfurt and the wider Rhine‑Main region have exposed what prosecutors believe to be one of Germany’s largest illegal online gambling operations.
After more than three years of undercover work, investigators searched eleven properties and carried out an arrest warrant, targeting suspects accused of running commercial betting without a licence.
Officials say the network, which involved five suspects, handled stakes worth more than €5.8 billion between mid‑2021 and the end of 2023, while tax losses for 2024 alone are expected to reach around €77.6 million.
The Frankfurt public prosecutor’s office confirmed that more than 100 officers joined forces with the tax investigation unit, the State Office for Combating Financial Crime in North Rhine‑Westphalia, and local police. “In addition to the search warrants, an asset seizure for a total of approx. 82 million euros was executed,” investigators said, according to the German Press Agency, noting that luxury cars and multiple accounts were confiscated.
DOCV calls for nationwide licensing model for online casino games
The German Online Casino Association (DOCV) welcomed the recent raid but warned that they also highlight the scale of the black market.
“Without question, this access is a success. But it also shows that the illegal online gambling market is flourishing and the extent to which organized crime has reached in the illegal online gambling market,” he said.
O’Neal pointed out that figures from the investigation do not align with estimates from the Joint Gambling Authority of the Länder (GGL), which put the black market share at 23%. Nielsen data, however, suggests illegal providers account for more than half of the market.
“The figures from the investigation do not match the estimates of the authority. This difference is too large and must be explained by the GGL. Your figures paint too small a picture of the black market,” he added.
The association believes the fragmented licensing system is part of the problem. While online poker and virtual slot games are regulated nationwide, casino games remain under the control of individual states. O’Neal explained that very few licences have been issued, leaving most of the activity in the hands of illegal providers.
“The evaluation of the Interstate Treaty on Gambling must therefore launch a nationwide licensing model for online casino games,” he said.
DOCV also pressed for tougher enforcement. O’Neal argued that blocking payments and geoblocking are not enough, and that cooperation with search engines and updated criminal law provisions are needed.
DSWV also calls for review of official channelization rates
The German Sports Betting Association (DSWV) also welcomed the raids but again warned that the scale of the findings, nearly six billion euros in wagers for one case, demands a closer look at how the black market is measured.
President Mathias Dahms said: “This successful investigation clearly demonstrates the scale that the illegal gambling market has now reached. We strongly welcome the fact that law enforcement agencies are taking decisive action in this area.”
The call for stronger enforcement comes at a sensitive time for Germany’s gambling regulator. Just weeks before the raids, Christian Hochgrebe took over as chair of the Joint Gambling Authority of the Federal States (GGL) under the annual rotation system.
His arrival coincided with preparations for the first major review of the Interstate Treaty on Gambling, the framework introduced in 2021 to regulate the market. The evaluation will test whether the current rules are working as intended.
The market has already seen significant changes this year. On 1 July, the GGL approved higher stakes for licensed online slot machines, replacing the long‑standing €1 cap with a tiered system.
Players under 21 remain limited to €1 per spin, while those aged 21 and above can wager up to €3. Adults who show no signs of harmful gambling behaviour over a 90‑day period may now stake up to €5.
Against this backdrop, the DSWV insists that both enforcement and accurate data are essential. Dahms concluded that strict rules alone will not protect players if illegal operators continue to thrive, and that strengthening the legal market must go hand in hand with consistent action against unlicensed services.
