Christian Hochgrebe becomes new chair of German gambling regulator
The appointment comes ahead of the conclusion of a review of Germany’s gambling legislation.
Germany.- A new chairman has been appointed for the administrative board of Germany’s federal gambling regulator Gemeinsamen Glücksspielbehörde der Länder (GGL). Christian Hochgreb has taken up the position as a pivotal review of German gambling regulation approaches its conclusion.
Hochgrebe will chair the regulator for the next 12 months having taken over the rotating chairmanship from Sandro Kirchner. This annual transition reflects Germany’s constitutional model, where gambling regulation remains the responsibility of the Länder (states) rather than the federal government. The rotation ensures that the regulator’s strategic direction continues to mirror Germany’s cooperative system of state governance.
Hochgrebe steps into the role as the GGL readies for the first statutory review of gambling legislation since the Interstate Treaty on Gambling (GlüStV 2021) came into force five years ago, regulating online gambling in the country. The treaty is facing scrutiny from political circles, including the governing Christian Democratic Union (CDU), which has raised questions about its effectiveness.
Lawmakers are expected to scrutinise rules on advertising, deposit limits, customer protection obligations, and responsible gambling measures. Some of the measures that are most often questioned by operators – product limitations, the €1 stake cap and the high tax rate – are not expected to be revisited.
Priorities for German gambling regulator
Kirchner highlighted the regulator’s progress over the past year, noting that the GGL had strengthened its institutional foundations through key personnel appointments and digital upgrades. He stressed that enforcement against illegal gambling had been “significantly intensified,” particularly by targeting hosting and payment service providers. At the same time, the framework for licensed operators has been refined to increase the attractiveness of legal offerings, he said.
Looking ahead to his tenure, Hochgrebe said: “In the future, it will be important to actively shape and review current developments and existing structures. Key topics include, in particular, the upcoming evaluation of the State Treaty on Gambling and the resulting adjustments, as well as the ongoing development of oversight of legal providers and the fight against illegal structures .”
Board member Ronald Benter added: “Our cooperation with the federal states to date is based on mutual trust and support. With Mr. Hochgrebe as Chairman of the Supervisory Board, we feel well-prepared for a year full of challenges.”
