Published on: January 23, 2026, 01:46h.
Updated on: January 23, 2026, 01:46h.
- GGL releases holiday guide for spotting illegal gambling websites
- Offshore casinos employ SEO tactics, affiliates, and cloaking methods for legitimacy
- Licensed platforms incorporate LUGAS caps, OASIS self-exclusion features, and emergency buttons
What characteristics define an unlicensed offshore gambling website? This is the question that Germany’s gambling authority seeks to address with a new guide aimed at assisting players in evading the black market.
The overseeing entity, the Gemeinsame Glücksspielbehörde der Länder – conveniently referred to as GGL – implements the nation’s gambling laws under the Glücksspielneuregulierungstaatsvertrag (GlüStV 2021). The length of this regulation highlights Germany’s commitment to stringent gambling policies, taking the game “seriously”—even in Scrabble.
‘Rarely Appear Untrustworthy’
The newly released document, titled Illegal Gambling on the Internet – Recognize, Avoid, Report, was launched during the holiday season, a time when gambling activities surge, increasing the risk of accidentally engaging with unlicensed operators.
According to the GGL, unlicensed offshore gambling sites seldom seem “untrustworthy” at first. Instead, they showcase attractive, professionally crafted designs targeted at German-speaking audiences, yet lack valid German licensing.
Illegal operators often enhance their visibility through SEO strategies, vying for generic keywords like “online casino” or “casino without limits.”
Additionally, the GGL cautions that some illicit sites utilize “cloaking” tactics, showing different content based on the audience. Regulators and search engines may see a compliant-looking version, while actual users could be redirected to gambling offers, complicating detection and law enforcement.
Warning signs include international domains, overly generous bonuses, and marketing claims of “no limits.” Furthermore, these sites typically lack essential player protection tools like deposit caps or the OASIS self-exclusion system.
These safety measures were introduced by GlüStV 2021, which revolutionized the regulations governing online gambling in Germany.
Strong Enforcement Methods
According to the regulations, players may not deposit more than €1,000 monthly across all licensed platforms. This limit is managed through LUGAS technology, which monitors deposits in real time, preventing players from evading these limits by switching sites.
Licensed operators also need to connect to OASIS, Germany’s centralized self-exclusion database, and provide a constantly accessible emergency button that allows players to self-exclude immediately.
While Germany has established some of the strictest gambling laws in Europe, there are worries that lower-stakes options and advertising restrictions might be enticing players toward unregulated operators, who face no such limitations.
The issuance of this advisory is part of a broader initiative to enhance “channelization,” which signifies a licensed market’s ability to attract players to legitimate gambling options.