Checking a GGL permit: the whitelist in one minute
Published on · Sabine Lindner · 7 min read
Whether an operator is permitted in Germany is not a matter of belief — the authority publishes a list, and the check takes a minute.
What the GGL is
The Gemeinsame Glücksspielbehörde der Länder (GGL), based in Halle, has been the competent authority for online gambling in Germany since 2023. It issues the permits, supervises compliance with the state treaty and acts against offerings that are not permitted.
The check: one minute
- Open the authority's site and go to the section for players.
- There you will find the overview of permitted operators — the whitelist.
- Search for the domain you actually have in front of you, not the brand name.
- Permits are granted per game type: a permit for sports betting does not cover virtual slot games.
Step three is the important one. A brand may appear under several domains; what counts is the address in the address bar. If it is not on the list, there is no German permit for that offering — regardless of what the site says.
What a permit means in practice
| Protection | Applies at permitted operators |
|---|---|
| €1 stake cap per spin | Yes |
| Five-second minimum interval | Yes |
| Cross-operator limit of €1,000 per month | Yes |
| OASIS exclusion register and panic button | Yes |
| Route of complaint to the authority | Yes |
The converse also holds: without a permit, none of these apply automatically. Limits may then be offered but need not be — and a complaint goes not to the GGL but to the foreign authority that issued the licence in question.
What a website says is not proof
A seal, an authority's name or a phrase like "regulated to German standards" is text on a page. Proof is only the entry in the authority's list. The same rule applies to any licence claim: find the number, look it up in that authority's register, match status and company name — as described on our licensing page.
Where this order came from is explained in the article on the history. Which figures describe a game is in the article on payout rates, how to set limits in the article on mindful play, and what technology changes in the article on VR.
