Frankfurt prosecutors, state tax police and North Rhine-Westphalia's financial crime unit raided eleven locations in an operation targeting an unlicensed online gambling ring. More than 100 officers took part.
Five suspects are accused of accepting wagers without a German licence since July 2021. Total handle from mid-2021 through end-2023 came to €5.86bn. Investigators say the operators also evaded tax: the shortfall for 2024 alone is estimated at €77.6m. Police arrested one person, seized several high-value vehicles, froze bank accounts and placed restraints on assets worth approximately €82m.
Mathias Dahms, president of licensed sportsbook association DSWV, called the raid proof of black-market scale. He pointed to the absence of deposit limits, verification and self-exclusion on illegal sites. The association has asked for a review of official channelisation figures.
Kevin O'Neal of DOCV, which represents licensed online casinos, noted the gap between regulator GGL estimates and independent research. GGL's 2025 report put the black market at 23% of 2024 GGR—€547m—while Nielsen data suggests around 56%. DOCV is calling for a single federal licence for online casino and tougher enforcement. The Interstate Treaty on Gambling review is due by year-end and may introduce national licensing. Regulators already removed the €1 slot-stake cap in July.
