(de-news.net) – The Federal Drug and Addiction Commissioner has urged tougher federal and state action against illegal gambling in Germany, warning that organized crime, money laundering, and the exploitation of addiction are being enabled by weak enforcement structures and legal loopholes.
Hendrik Streeck (CDU), the Federal Drug and Addiction Commissioner, called for a substantially tougher approach by both federal and state authorities toward illicit gambling activities in Germany. According to reports, Streeck characterized the current situation as a serious and highly dangerous development that could ultimately undermine public order and weaken public confidence in the rule of law. He argued that the issue extended far beyond isolated backroom slot machines, instead involving broader networks linked to organized crime, money laundering operations, and significant financial gains generated through the exploitation of individuals suffering from gambling addiction. In his assessment, illegal gambling structures were increasingly operating on a professional and highly profitable basis, thereby posing wider social and institutional risks.
In addressing the fight against illicit gambling, Streeck maintained that Germany continued to face substantial enforcement shortcomings. He argued that the scale of illegal revenues and the sophistication of criminal structures required a more stringent and coordinated response from public authorities. According to his assessment, stronger regulatory oversight, improved cooperation between federal and state institutions, and more consistent criminal prosecution were all necessary in order to confront the problem effectively. He further contended that law enforcement agencies and regulatory bodies needed enhanced capacities to identify organized criminal networks, secure evidence more reliably, and remove illegal gambling operations from circulation with greater speed and efficiency. This, he argued, applied equally to covert slot-machine venues operating in hidden locations and to illicit online gambling platforms that could reach large numbers of users with limited oversight.
Streeck also drew attention to what he described as a legal loophole involving illicit gambling machines in cases where winnings are not automatically dispensed by the machine itself but are instead secretly paid out by employees or operators. In his view, such arrangements significantly complicate efforts by authorities to prove that the activity legally constitutes gambling, thereby limiting the effectiveness of criminal prosecution. As a consequence, he suggested examining whether the installation or operation of manipulated, tampered with, or unauthorized machines should itself be subject to stricter criminal penalties. He argued that illegal gambling networks were not only exploiting vulnerable individuals with addiction problems, but were also facilitating money laundering activities and contributing to a broader erosion of the rule of law. For these reasons, Streeck maintained that the state needed to respond with greater clarity, consistency, and severity in order to deter illegal operators and strengthen enforcement credibility.
Audio: TTSFree
