Gaming in Germany Conference Agenda Centers on 2021 Treaty Review, NRW Opportunities, and GGL Enforcement Limits

The Gaming in Germany Conference has released its complete 2026 agenda and speaker list for the November 10 event at the DoubleTree by Hilton Ku'damm in Berlin. Discussions will address the evaluation of the 2021 State Gambling Treaty, product expansion prospects in sweepstakes, eSports betting and online casino within North Rhine-Westphalia, and coordinated action against offshore operators, according to Yogonet International. A core focus is the enforcement authority of the Joint Gambling Authority of the German States after the Halle Administrative Court ruling raised doubts about its power to block unlicensed iGaming.

Regulatory Flashpoints and Product Expansion Paths

The program examines GGL enforcement powers alongside player protection and market conditions. Sessions will assess licensing and business-to-business openings in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany's most populous state. Speakers include Nadja Wierzejewski, Head of Enforcement at the GGL, for the keynote; Alexander Müller, member of the executive board of the Free Democratic Party; Melanie Hainzer, DACH market owner at Play'n GO; Hans-Peter Kalenberg, Department Head at the Ministry of the Interior of North Rhine-Westphalia; and Dr Carsten Bringmann, Associate Partner at Noerr, with Dr Joerg Hofmann, senior partner at Melchers Law Firm, moderating. Separate panels feature Dr Matthias Spitz, senior partner at Melchers Law Firm, and Dr Christian Rapani, partner at Rapani Rechtsanwälte, on potential entry of prediction markets and sweepstakes.

Where Enforcement Uncertainty Meets Market Potential

Gaming in Germany founder Willem van Oort said the market "is certainly not a boring one. On the one hand, there appears to be room for a significant expansion in the range of permitted products. On the other hand, a recent ruling by the Halle Administrative Court calls into question the GGL's entire legal authority to enforce the prohibition against unlicensed iGaming in Germany." He added that the Berlin event will serve as the place for Germany-licensed operators, suppliers and stakeholders to discuss the way forward and keep the illegal market in check, noting "this may be more important than ever."

The court decision creates immediate risk that offshore operators exploit any perceived weakness in GGL authority. Licensed participants must weigh how treaty evaluation outcomes could open NRW-specific products against the counter-risk of fragmented enforcement. This agenda assembles the precise mix of regulators, lawmakers, suppliers and counsel needed to test practical responses before gaps widen.