Germany has dismantled an alleged illegal online gambling network that is believed to have processed around €5.86 billion in wagers between July 2021 and the end of 2023, in an operation that resulted in 11 searches, more than 100 officers deployed, one arrest and an asset freeze of approximately €82 million.
The operation was carried out on September 8, 2026 in Frankfurt am Main, the Rhine-Main region and Cologne, following more than three years of investigation. The Frankfurt Public Prosecutor’s Office coordinated the action together with Frankfurt’s tax investigation unit, the North Rhine-Westphalia State Office for Combating Financial Crime (LBF NRW) and Frankfurt Police Headquarters.
Nadja Wierzejewski
Prosecutors are investigating five suspects over the alleged commercial operation of online gambling without a German licence and possible particularly serious tax evasion. The main suspect was arrested under a warrant issued by the Frankfurt am Main Local Court. The suspects’ names, nationalities and the commercial brands allegedly used have not been disclosed.
The activity is believed to have begun at least in July 2021, coinciding with the entry into force of the 2021 Interstate Treaty on Gambling (Glücksspielstaatsvertrag 2021), which reorganised Germany’s online market. Investigators put wagering volume at around €5.86 billion through December 2023 and estimate potential tax losses of €77.6 million in 2024 alone. The investigation focuses mainly on online virtual slots.
Stefan Müller
High-end vehicles, bank accounts and other assets were secured during the searches. The €82 million asset freeze is precautionary and does not amount to a fine or final confiscation.
Mathias Dahms
Germany’s interstate regulator, the Joint Gambling Authority of the Länder (GGL), is led by Ronald Benter, while Christian Hochgrebe has chaired its Administrative Board since July 1, 2026. The authority’s illegal gambling enforcement unit is headed by Nadja Wierzejewski.
In March, the GGL estimated that the unregulated online market accounted for 22.97% of activity in 2024, representing roughly €547 million in illegal GGR and a legal channelisation rate of 77.03%. The industry challenged those figures after the raid. Mathias Dahms, President of the German Sports Betting Association, argued that a single group capable of moving €5.86 billion calls for a reassessment of the black market’s scale. The German Online Casino Association, chaired by Dirk Quermann, also called for stronger enforcement and a more uniform national framework. Frankfurt Police is headed by Stefan Müller, while Dominik Mies serves as spokesperson for the Frankfurt Public Prosecutor’s Office.
