Gaming in Germany 2026: Organisers Announce the Upcoming Summit’s Agenda

The conference will be hosted at the capital’s DoubleTree by Hilton hotel, roughly 5 minutes on foot from the renowned Kurfürstendamm avenue. The main panels will focus on regulatory reforms in the national online gaming sector and the outlook for its future growth.

Key Discussion Topics at This Year’s Summit

The programme encompasses several areas related to the oversight and development of the gambling industry:

• European AML standards;
• prospects for state-owned monopolies;
• shifting requirements for data protection and storage;
• the fight against shadow web brands and the grey economy;
• licensing specifics and other legal changes affecting digital portals;
• the general state of the local iGaming segment and its key performance metrics;
• regulatory outlook for new niches, such as prediction platforms and sweepstakes, and more.

Particular emphasis will be placed on assessing how effective the GlüStV 2021 has been. Attendees will also gain useful insights into Austria and other German-speaking markets. Several panels will address EU-level issues as well, which makes the summit relevant for guests from all member states.

Willem van Oort, GiG’s founder, stated that these matters have a direct bearing on operators working in the mentioned jurisdictions. According to the expert, new developments, such as the opening of a legal iGaming sector in Austria, always spark interest. Discussing them will help entrepreneurs understand how to scale their businesses, retain clients, and build long-term loyalty.

He added that every topic on the agenda, whether focused on Germany or on the whole region, is essential for running a thriving project. By comparing localised and EU-wide approaches and experiences, participants will be able to identify strategies and solutions that suit their GEOs.

The list of confirmed sponsors includes:

• Adyen — a trusted fintech portal that centralises payments, data, compliance, and other related services;
• Mindway AI — a reliable provider of top-tier gambling products that draw on neuroscience, AI tools, and expert knowledge;
• bragg — a dependable supplier offering online casino content, aggregation services, a PAM system, and other solutions;
• Play’n GO — a respected iGaming software developer with well-known cross-industry projects (Music, The GO Show, etc.).

Preliminary Programme for the GiG 2026 Event

The summit’s agenda spans a broad range of topics. Delegates will discuss the existing legislative framework, the methods authorities employ to tackle illegal brands, the outlook for new offerings, and the development trajectories of various industry verticals.

The conference is structured around 6 thematic blocks:

Supervision: Assessment of GlüStV 2021

Attendees will learn more about Germany’s oversight model and the impact of its 2021 State Gambling Treaty. The block will open with a keynote address by a senior GGL representative. A 1st-hand perspective from the regulatory body’s official delegate will set an action-oriented tone from the outset.

Legal experts and representatives of local trade associations will then share updates on the supervisory system and market prospects. The block will wrap up with a panel discussion on balancing economic viability with public opinion, moderated by Birgitte Sand & Associates’ Chief Executive. The list of speakers will be revealed later.

Offshore Segment and Oversight Effectiveness

The 2nd section will be dedicated to shadow operations, player security, and hands-on solutions for compliance monitoring.

Presentations on the following topics are planned:

• customer protection measures, the current state of the sector, and approaches that make enforcement more effective (FDP);
• assessing how well compliance-ensuring methods work (Kaizen);
• the influence of the industry community through joint initiatives (European Gambling Gathering);
• where iGaming and payments intersect, and how it helps secure strong market positions (Adyen).

Aspiring Niches and Emerging Opportunities

The 3rd block will allow visitors to explore ways for businesses to scale and expand their offerings.

The following topics will be discussed:

• licensing requirements and B2B opportunities for online casinos in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany’s most densely populated state (Noerr);
• sweepstakes and prediction platforms entering the national gambling industry (Melchers Law Firm, Rapani Rechtsanwälte);
• tensions between state-run monopolies and European regulations that could turn into new openings for the private segment (University of Vienna);
• the nuances of accepting wagers on eSports competitions in the country (Melchers Law Firm).

Pressing Market Issues and Their Implications

The 4th educational block will cover practical challenges that business owners will encounter in the years ahead.

Specialists will explore the following topics:

• recertification in the national iGaming sector, planned for 2027, and its potential aftermath (Tipwin; other lecturers to be revealed);
• the real-world impact of new EU requirements in the AML and CFT areas (Chevron Group; additional speakers to be announced);
• the rising significance of data vaults and mandatory adherence to security standards (Docap).

Key Specifics of the Austrian Market

The 5th block is the briefest, but the most tightly focused on the jurisdiction. Its subject is legislative reforms in the local iGaming sphere.

For now, only one keynote presentation is scheduled. It will cover the specifics of re-regulation in the national online casino sector. Rapani Rechtsanwälte’s Partner will explain the main trends, issues, and insights.

Discussions on Germany’s Digital Segment

The summit will close with an analytical review of the domestic iGaming vertical and typical user behaviour.

This session will feature 2 presentations:

1. The 1st will outline key figures for the segment. This panel will be led by H2 Gambling Capital, an international market analytics supplier, so participants can count on a stream of useful findings drawn from its reports.
2. The 2nd panel will compare the popularity of local and foreign entertainment offers among players. It will be delivered by Blask Business Intelligence, another respected name in industry data, and promises plenty of valuable insights for attendees as well.

Additional GiG 2026 details will be announced in the coming weeks. The organisers invite interested delegates to follow the summit’s official portal and social media accounts for further updates.