In the context of the ongoing evaluation of the National Gambling Treaty, various state addiction counseling centers are calling for stricter rules regarding the advertising of sports betting. This push comes in response to rising figures of both addicts and those at risk of addiction, according to a survey conducted by the “Redaktionsnetzwerk Deutschland” (Wednesday issues) across state addiction agencies.
All institutions polled indicated a direct link between gambling disorders and suicidal tendencies. They advocate for the expansion of low-threshold support services alongside tougher legislation, ranging from restricted visibility to a complete ban on sponsoring and advertising by gambling providers.
The increase in problem gambling is visually represented across several states. In Lower Saxony, analysis by specialized agencies shows a continuous rise in the number of people seeking advice due to sports betting issues. While sports betting accounted for 22 percent of consultations in 2021, that proportion climbed steadily to 33.2 percent by 2025. Similarly, in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, the percentage of clients with gambling problems rose from under one percent to approximately 17 percent between these two years. Meanwhile, the Saarland estimates a sharp increase, jumping from 23 percent in 2023 to 50 percent currently.
Hanna Ritter of the Saarland State Specialist Office for Gambling Addiction told newspapers that, relative to the Treaty evaluation, they demand a broad limitation or outright ban on gambling provider advertising, similar to the approach taken with tobacco manufacturers. The National Gambling Treaty is currently undergoing review, which includes a study examining gambling advertising across television and the internet. An evaluation report is set to be submitted to the states by December 31, 2026.
State agencies also voiced concerns about potential surges in addiction during the FIFA World Cup. A new survey from the University of Hohenheim, designed for the “Redaktionsnetzwerk Deutschland,” sheds light on ad saturation. For the four German matches, for instance, 113 minutes were filled with gambling advertisements during a total broadcast time of 958 minutes. On ARD or ZDF, the average was 28 minutes per match, occurring on the sidelines, in interview sponsorship boards, and during pre- and post-game coverage.
Konrad Landgraf, managing director of the Bavarian State Office for Gambling Addiction, stated to the press that since sports betting constitutes a potential addictive substance, it should not be advertised around the clock. “Even for the sake of protecting children and adolescents, we demand a ban on advertising until late in the evening,” Landgraf noted. Furthermore, he emphasized that online betting offers would also require significantly stricter regulations.
