Berlin’s Christian Hochgrebe has assumed the rotating chairmanship of the Administrative Board of Germany’s gambling regulator, the GGL, effective 1 July.
Hochgrebe succeeds Sandro Kirchner, who served as chairman during the previous term under Germany’s annual rotation system for the role.
The rotating chairmanship reflects Germany’s constitutional model, which places gambling regulation in the hands of the Länder, or federal states, rather than central government.
This cooperative structure ensures the GGL’s strategic direction is shaped collectively, with each state taking a turn at the helm of the regulator’s Administrative Board.
Hochgrebe steps into the role at a pivotal moment, as the GGL prepares for the first statutory review of the Interstate Treaty on Gambling, known as the GlüStV 2021, since it came into force five years ago.
The review is expected to assess whether the treaty’s provisions on gambling advertising, deposit limits, customer protection obligations, and responsible gambling measures remain fit for purpose.
Notably, two of the treaty’s defining restrictions are not expected to be revisited during the review, including the €1 stake limit on online slot games and broader product restrictions in the regulated online market.
Outgoing chairman Kirchner reflected on a productive term, noting that the past year had focused on strengthening the GGL’s institutional foundations and completing key personnel appointments.
Kirchner also highlighted significant progress in digital capabilities to improve supervision, alongside intensified enforcement against illegal gambling through measures targeting hosting providers and payment service providers.
He identified the continued development of supervision of licensed operators and “the fight against illegal structures” as the regulator’s principal priorities going forward.
GGL board member Ronald Benter commented on the transition, stating that the authority’s close cooperation with Germany’s federal states is built on mutual trust and support.
Benter added that the GGL is “well prepared for a year full of challenges” as Hochgrebe takes on the chairmanship during this critical review period.
For the wider German gambling sector, the Interstate Treaty review is shaping up to be one of the most closely watched regulatory exercises anywhere in Europe this year.
Policymakers are set to scrutinise whether amendments are needed to advertising rules, deposit limits, and customer protection duties, while the treaty’s core market restrictions are expected to remain intact throughout the process.
