DACHL Gambling Regulators Step Up Cross-Border Action

Regulators target the wider illegal gambling ecosystem

The increasing international and decentralized nature of illegal gambling is prompting authorities to look beyond individual operators. The German Gambling Authority (GGL) said that effective enforcement requires greater information sharing on operators, supporting actors and new business models across jurisdictions.

Market monitoring by the GGL indicates that illegal gambling is part of a broader ecosystem involving not only operators but also game studios, aggregators, platform operators and technology providers.

The German authority has therefore adopted a more comprehensive enforcement approach, developing and testing coordinated measures across different areas of its operations. The objective is to increase the impact of regulatory action and address illegal gambling ecosystems more broadly.

Legal operators also have a role

The DACHL authorities also revisited the potential contribution of licensed gambling operators to efforts against illegal offerings.

In January 2026, the GGL called for greater engagement from legal market participants in combating illegal gambling. During the Bern meeting, this approach was discussed again in light of experiences from the participating jurisdictions and possible additional measures.

The focus reflects a broader enforcement strategy in which authorities seek to disrupt not only unauthorized gambling websites but also the wider structures that support their operation and distribution.

European case law shapes gambling enforcement

Recent developments in European jurisprudence were another key area of discussion during the meeting.

The GGL shared its experience with recent rulings by the European Court of Justice, particularly concerning the ability of EU member states to regulate online gambling in order to channel gambling activity into controlled and regulated markets.

The authorities also examined the legal consequences of unauthorized gambling offerings under civil law and the implications for practical enforcement. A key issue was how European court decisions could affect gambling supervision and enforcement within the different national legal frameworks.

The exchange is particularly relevant as regulators across Europe continue to balance market access, consumer protection and enforcement against unlicensed gambling.

New gambling business models require early assessment

The regulators also examined prediction markets as an example of emerging business models that raise questions about regulatory classification and their boundaries with other sectors.

Representatives from the participating countries exchanged information on the development of these offerings, national experiences and the regulatory challenges they may create.

The objective is to identify new gambling-related business models at an early stage and assess potential regulatory implications before they become more established in the market.

Cross-border cooperation remains central

The Bern meeting highlighted a common challenge for gambling regulators: illegal online gambling operates within an increasingly interconnected international market.

As a result, effective enforcement cannot be limited by national borders. Authorities need to exchange information and coordinate their approaches when dealing with operators and the wider networks that enable unauthorized gambling activity.

The DACHL gambling regulators plan to continue their regular cooperation, with particular attention to illegal online gambling, emerging business models and cross-border information sharing.

Their common objective is to support a gambling market in which licensed operators work within reliable regulatory frameworks and comply with player protection requirements, while illegal offerings and the structures facilitating their distribution are consistently targeted by enforcement authorities.