Play’n GO Joins Deutscher Online Casinoverband to Strengthen Engagement on German Regulation

Play’n GO has joined the Deutscher Online Casinoverband (DOCV), the German Online Casino Association, to deepen its work with regulators, policymakers, and stakeholders. The association approved the membership unanimously. Melanie Hainzer, Market Owner DACH at Play’n GO, will represent the supplier and contribute its experience from regulated markets worldwide.

As reported by Yogonet International, the move aligns with Play’n GO’s view that trade associations must deliver practical solutions rather than serve as symbols. Shawn Fluharty, Head of Government Affairs at Play’n GO, said “A trade association should be much more than a logo on a member’s website or another room in which the industry talks to itself. Its job is to organise credible businesses around clear objectives, bring evidence and practical solutions to policymakers , and make sure regulation works in the real world as well as it does on paper.”

DOCV’s Role in Sustainable Regulation

The DOCV represents the regulated online casino industry as a forum for dialogue among businesses, policymakers, authorities, the media, and the public. Its statutory purposes center on sustainable regulation, fair competitive and taxation conditions, player protection, and a viable licensed market. The organization also conducts research into gambling-related harm and cooperates with addiction prevention groups and those protecting minors.

Market Realities and the Channelization Gap

The membership arrives while the regulated sector assesses how to improve channelization against illegal operators. Industry estimates place channelization between 30% and 50%, though official figures sit significantly higher. Magnus Olsson, Chief Commercial Officer at Play’n GO, said licensed operators face competitors that pay no equivalent taxes, follow no equivalent rules, and meet no equivalent player protection standards.

Olsson added that regulation must create a market players actively choose, warning that overly restrictive rules risk directing customers toward illegal sites. Play’n GO has already walked away from substantial unlicensed revenue to back sustainable growth through regulation. Fluharty stated that effective advocacy must deliver stronger channelization, enforcement against black-market activity, and balanced rules that protect players without fueling illegal channels.

Hainzer said she looks forward to collaboration that builds practical solutions, noting no single part of the industry can resolve Germany’s challenges alone. The supplier sees the step as consistent with its long-term commitment to regulated markets built on responsible standards.

Reporting: Yogonet International

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