A comprehensive national gambling survey conducted in Germany in 2025 revealed that overall gambling participation has remained broadly stable since 2021, with 36.4% of respondents reporting engagement in at least one paid gambling activity during the previous 12 months.
However, persistent pockets of high risk remain, notably among younger men, users of multiple gambling products and those who combine online and land-based participation.
The German Gambling Survey 2025 employed a mixed-mode design combining computer-assisted telephone interviews and online panels, collecting 12,340 valid responses from German residents aged 16 to 70, between 4 August and 26 November 2025.
Participation steady, but disorder remains a concern
Up to 36.4% of individuals surveyed reported gambling in the past year. Men (40.4%) were more likely to gamble than women (32.4%). Participation tended to increase with age, peaking in the 56-70 age group (40.3%).
Meanwhile 11.7% of respondants gambled at least weekly. Median monthly expenditure rose with problem severity: €30 for non-problem gamblers, €55 for at-risk gamblers and €150-€160 for those with mild to moderate gambling problems.
Using DSM-5 diagnostic criteria, 2.2% of adults aged 18-70 met the threshold for gambling disorder. An additional 5.5% were classified as “at risk” (meeting 1-3 DSM-5 criteria). Men exhibited a higher prevalence to risk (3.2%) compared to women (1.1%).
“Riskier” gambling activities were reported among 7.5% of respondents. The survey considered gambling activities such as slot machines, casino games, sports betting, and KENO as “high risk”.
The highest disorder rates were recorded among players of online slots (32.5%), while 23.4% of high-risk players used physical slot machines and 27% engaged in live sports betting. Younger adults aged 18–35 showed the greatest prevalence of gambling disorders.
Cognitive distortions and multi-product play intensify risk
The Gamblers’ Beliefs Questionnaire (GBQ) revealed strong correlations between erroneous beliefs (such as illusion of control) and problem severity. Those playing four or more types of games had nearly double the GBQ scores compared to single-game players.
For the first time, the survey assessed short-term financial trading, finding 6.5% of respondents reported day trading in the past year (9.2% men, 3.6% women). Among frequent day traders, 63.7% also gambled and 12.1% met gambling disorder criteria, suggesting behavioural overlap between speculative financial trading and gambling.
Awareness of the legal ban on under-18 gambling in Germany is high (85%) and widely supported (92% favour the minimum age being 18). Awareness of other safeguards, such as advertising restrictions, staff training, exclusion tools and limits, is lower, but public acceptance is high and has increased since 2021.
Evidence of growing engagement with protective tools is visible in the German market. The country’s nationwide OASIS self-exclusion register has steadily expanded since the introduction of the modern regulatory framework, approaching roughly 350,000 registered users within four years.
Policy implications as Germany reviews gambling regulation
The study targeted German-speaking residents aged 16–70 living in private households with telephone access. Problem gambling was assessed among adults (18-70) using a survey-adapted DSM-5 instrument.
The survey was funded by the Deutscher Lotto- und Totoblock (DLTB) and executed by the Institute for Interdisciplinary Addiction and Drug Research (ISD) alongside the University of Bremen’s gambling research unit.
Additional recent research has also highlighted external factors shaping player behaviour. A separate German study found that gambling advertising has a disproportionate influence on vulnerable players. Individuals experiencing gambling problems are significantly more likely to report that ads affect their attitudes and participation, particularly among younger men.
Original article: https://igamingbusiness.com/sustainable-gambling/responsible-gambling/german-gambling-survey-stability-gambling-participation-risks-remain/
