German Court Ruling Limits Use of IP Blocking in Gambling Enforcement
Germany’s highest administrative court has ruled that internet access providers cannot be required to block illegal gambling websites, prompting regulators to continue refining enforcement strategies.
Court Rejects IP Blocking for ISPs
Germany’s Federal Administrative Court (BVerwG) ruled on March 19 that Article 9 of the State Treaty on Gambling 2021 (GlüStV 2021) does not allow authorities to compel internet access providers to block gambling websites.
This judgment aligns with an earlier decision by the Higher Administrative Court of Koblenz and reinforces the legal boundaries around enforcement methods available to the Joint Gambling Authority of the Länder (GGL).
Host-Based Blocking Continues Unaffected
The GGL, Germany’s central regulator for gambling, confirmed that the ruling will not disrupt its current approach. Since 2022, the authority has shifted focus away from pursuing blocking orders through ISPs and instead relies on host-based enforcement — a process that targets the actual providers hosting illegal content.
While more labor-intensive, this method has enabled the GGL to block access to more than 930 domains within Germany. Roughly 60 new blocks are imposed each month. If a blocked domain resurfaces under a different hosting provider, the process begins again.
Regulatory Changes Already in Progress
The court decision comes as the GGL has already been working on amendments to strengthen Germany’s gambling enforcement framework. In anticipation of legal limitations on access provider blocking, the regulator began collaborating with federal and state officials to propose changes that would allow for broader application of blocking tools, including those targeting illegal gambling advertising.
These reforms aim to streamline procedures similar to existing payment blocking mechanisms, making enforcement more efficient. Although the adjustments fall outside the regular review process of the State Treaty, the GGL expects them to be adopted in the near future.
Beyond technical enforcement, the GGL is also pursuing broader regulatory improvements. During a joint meeting with state-level coordinators in late 2024, the authority discussed initiatives aimed at enhancing harm prevention, including the introduction of standardized markers to identify problem gambling behavior.