The legal basis for gaming halls, hospitality & betting
The 2021 State Treaty on Gambling: what operators need to know
The GlüStV 2021 is the rulebook every gambling business in Germany is measured against — from gaming halls to a pub with two gaming machines. This page summarises what the treaty regulates, what changed compared to 2012, and which concrete duties follow for your business.
What is the 2021 State Treaty on Gambling?
The 2021 State Treaty on Gambling (GlüStV 2021) is the treaty of all 16 German federal states regulating gambling, in force since 1 July 2021. It pursues three main goals: preventing gambling addiction, channelling play into legal, supervised offerings, and pushing back the black market. Compliance is overseen by the state authorities and the Joint Gambling Authority of the Länder (GGL) in Halle (Saale). The states' implementing acts apply in addition — for example for gaming-hall licences and minimum-distance rules.
What changed compared to the 2012 treaty
OASIS exclusion checks for everyone
The OASIS player-exclusion system (§§ 8 ff.) applies across all forms of gambling and nationwide: gaming halls, hospitality venues with gaming machines and betting agencies must check every guest against the central register before play.
Social-concept duty across the board
§ 6 GlüStV obliges all operators and intermediaries to maintain a social concept — including staff training, documentation and provable implementation.
Online gambling legalised and regulated
Virtual slots and online poker are legal with a licence — tightly regulated with a cross-provider deposit limit and central supervision by the GGL. For land-based businesses this means more legal competition, but also clearer rules for everyone.
Stricter advertising rules
§ 5 GlüStV sets narrow limits for gambling advertising — by content, audience and channel. Land-based businesses should measure their marketing against it too.
Your duties by type of business
The core duties — social concept, OASIS checks, youth protection, documentation — apply everywhere, but differ in detail:
Gaming halls
Exclusion check at every admission, social concept with training records, ongoing documentation, social report — plus state-level licensing and certification requirements.
Social concept for gaming hallsHospitality with gaming machines
A single gaming machine triggers the duties: exclusion check before play, age verification, social concept — regardless of who installs the machines.
Social concept for hospitalityBetting agencies
OASIS check before a bet is placed, social concept and trained staff — essentially the same requirements as for gaming halls.
OASIS exclusion checks for operatorsWhere do I find the legal text?
The official text of the GlüStV 2021 and current supervisory information are available from the Joint Gambling Authority of the Länder. In practice, your state's implementing acts usually matter more — we are happy to help with the concrete implementation in your business.
Joint Gambling Authority of the Länder (GGL)Stay on top of changes
The State Treaty is being evaluated and developed further; implementing acts and supervisory practice change continuously. Our quarterly Regulatory Updates summarise what matters for operators — changes to the GlüStV, template forms, authority practice.
Frequently asked questions about the GlüStV 2021
Does the 2021 State Treaty also apply to pubs with gaming machines?
Yes. The duties under the GlüStV 2021 — social concept, OASIS exclusion checks, youth protection — apply regardless of the type of business. A single gaming machine in a pub triggers them.
What changed for gaming halls with the GlüStV 2021?
The key changes: the OASIS exclusion check became mandatory nationwide and across all forms of gambling, the § 6 social concept must be provably implemented, and advertising rules were tightened. State licensing requirements continue to apply alongside.
Where do I find the official text of the GlüStV 2021?
The official text is available via the Joint Gambling Authority of the Länder (GGL) and the states' official gazettes. The states' implementing acts apply in addition, governing e.g. minimum distances and licensing procedures for gaming halls.
What is the difference between the 2012 and 2021 treaties?
The GlüStV 2021 legalised online slots and online poker under strict conditions, extended the OASIS exclusion system to all forms of gambling, anchored the social-concept duty across the board and rewrote the advertising rules. It also created the GGL as a central supervisory authority.
Meet your GlüStV duties digitally
Social concept, OASIS exclusion checks, documentation and social report — with Ardanto you handle the duties of the GlüStV 2021 in one app.
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