Christian Hochgrebe has been named the new chair of the administrative board for Germany’s federal gambling regulator, the GGL. The twelve-month term begins as the authority prepares for a statutory review of the Interstate Treaty on Gambling.
Regulatory Review and Legislative Focus
The appointment follows the annual rotation of the chairmanship, a procedure established under Germany’s constitutional framework where gambling oversight remains a state rather than federal responsibility. Hochgrebe succeeds Sandro Kirchner, whose tenure focused on strengthening the regulator’s operational capacity through staff recruitment and system modernization. Kirchner also directed intensified enforcement actions against unlicensed operators, specifically targeting hosting and payment service providers.The regulatory review will examine the GlüStV 2021 framework, which has governed online gambling for five years. Political representatives, including members of the Christian Democratic Union, are evaluating advertising restrictions, deposit limits, consumer protection requirements, and responsible gambling protocols. Legislative adjustments are not expected to affect product restrictions, the €1 maximum stake limit, or the current taxation structure.
Hochgrebe stated: "In the future, it will be important to actively shape and review current developments and existing structures." Board member Ronald Benter noted that established cooperation with the federal states provides a stable foundation for the tasks ahead.
The preceding year established the operational baseline for this transition, with the regulator refining licensing frameworks to improve market conditions while maintaining enforcement standards.