DSWV warns only 1 in 12 German betting sites is legal as Champion League drives participation

Germany’s Sports Betting Association (DSWV) warned on Monday that just one in 12 online betting sites accessible to German players is legal, urging vigilance as betting volume “skyrockets” with a new UEFA Champions League kicking off.

The association said at least 382 illegal German-language websites are offering sports betting compared with only 34 licensed sites.

“Online, it's 11:1 in favor of the black market, and that puts players at risk,” said Mathias Dahms, president of the DSWV.

In the legal sports betting market, Dahms said, players benefit from “guaranteed player protection, reliable payouts and tax revenue for the common good.” He contrasted this with illegal operators who “do not adhere to any rules, offer no security, and have a higher risk of gambling addiction.”

The DSWV cautioned that consumers who place bets with unlicensed sites also face criminal liability, with penalties of up to six months in prison or a fine.

To help distinguish legal providers, Dahms pointed to the whitelist maintained by the federal gambling regulator (GGL), the mandatory GGL permit logo on licensed sites, and the ability of legal operators to advertise during Bundesliga and Champions League matches.

“Players need to be particularly vigilant at this time of year so that they don't accidentally end up with illegal providers,” Dahms said. He stressed that visibility through advertising during Champions League broadcasts and stadium boards was key to guiding bettors to licensed platforms.

The DSWV said legal operators also fund addiction support services, guarantee payouts, and contribute tax revenues.

“It is in the common interest of regulators, providers and players to strengthen the legal market and push back the black market,” Dahms said. “This is the only way to ensure player protection, integrity and tax revenues.”