Germany’s Federal Administrative Court (BVerwG) has ruled that Article 9 of the 2021 State Treaty on Gambling (GlüStV 2021) does not permit authorities to force internet access providers to block access to illegal gambling websites.
Issued on 19 March, the decision reinforces a previous ruling by the Higher Administrative Court of Koblenz and affirms legal constraints on using IP blocking against ISPs.
Germany’s gambling regulator, the Joint Gambling Authority of the Länder (GGL), stated that the ruling will not impact its current enforcement practices. The GGL had already stopped seeking blocking orders against ISPs in 2022 due to similar legal setbacks and has since shifted its focus to targeting host providers.
Though more demanding, this host-based enforcement approach has delivered results. The GGL has blocked access to over 930 domains across Germany and continues to restrict around 60 additional sites each month. When blocked domains reappear under new hosting arrangements, the GGL restarts enforcement procedures.
Following earlier court decisions, the GGL has been collaborating with national and regional authorities to amend the enforcement framework. Proposed changes aim to extend blocking measures to illegal gambling advertisements and introduce streamlined procedures akin to payment blocking.
Although these proposals fall outside the regular review cycle of the State Treaty, the GGL anticipates swift action. The regulator continues to push for legal revisions that will enhance consumer protection and improve its ability to tackle unlicensed gambling operators.
In parallel, the GGL is also working to enhance regulatory efforts through new initiatives focused on addiction prevention and the development of uniform harm indicators – topics that featured prominently during its late-2024 meeting with state gambling coordinators.
