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Association warns of growing black market
According to the German Sports Betting Association (DSWV), the 2026 Football World Cup will be the most important event of the year for the German sports betting industry: The association expects bets of almost one billion euros in Germany – but a significant part of this will be made with illegal providers.
The 2026 World Cup will be held for the first time with 48 nations and includes more matches than any previous tournament. “Large tournaments often act as an additional month of sales for the industry,” explains DSWV President Mathias Dahms. “In particular, games with German participation traditionally generate high betting activity. I therefore wish that the German national team stays in the tournament for as long as possible, both as a fan and as a representative of the sports betting industry.”
According to DSWV estimates, around 600 to 700 million euros of the expected World Cup bets will be placed in the regulated market. Another 300 to 400 million euros, on the other hand, could end up with illegal providers.
“This shows that we continue to have a considerable problem with the black market,” warns Dahms. According to official data from the supervisory authority, around a third of players also use illegal offers, at least in part. According to GGL, black market sales have recently grown by 17 percent, significantly faster than the legal market.
One reason for this is that the legal offer in Germany is very restrictive by international standards. “Certain popular types of bets are prohibited in Germany. For example, the live bet ‘Will player X score another goal?’ may not be offered due to regulation,” Dahms explains.
The association is particularly critical of the fact that illegal providers could benefit from the increased attention, especially at major events. “Illegal providers can advertise much more freely and without restriction than regulated companies,” Dahms emphasizes. “At the same time, tournaments like the World Cup also offer the opportunity to bring players back into the legal market.”
The DSWV points out that only licensed providers ensure that winnings are paid out reliably and that comprehensive player protection measures take effect, such as modern AI-supported systems for the early detection of conspicuous gambling behaviour. “Today, the sports betting market is regulated more securely than ever before – but this protection only works in a legal environment,” Dahms makes clear. “That’s why we expressly recommend that players place their World Cup bets exclusively with legal, state-approved providers.”
