Why providers are now responsible
For a long time, the joint gaming authority of the states (gambling regulator) was left empty-handed. On March 19 2026, the Federal Administrative Court in Leipzig decided that the authority lacked the legal basis to force access providers such as Telekom or Vodafone to block. The gambling regulator was allowed to name illegal sites, but overall remained toothless when it came to cracking down.
The federal states have closed this gap by adapting the State Treaty on Gambling. The authority has the details of the procedure in a own communication about the judgment explained.
DNS blocking instead of IP blocking, the subtle difference
It is blocked using the so-called DNS procedure , i.e. Via the Internet's address book, which translates real names into server addresses. This method is considered more accurate and less risky than an IP block, which could paralyze entire servers including unrelated pages. The providers must integrate the gambling regulator's blacklists and update them regularly.
Anyone who refuses risks serious consequences Penalty fines of up to £ 300 , measured by the financial performance of the company. It summarizes which tools are available to the authority FAQ page of the gambling regulator on network blocks together. The also provides a detailed classification of the new provider obligation NR courier.
Where the barriers reach their limits
The DNS block is not a wall. If you use a VPN service or store an alternative DNS server in the settings, removes the blockage with just a few clicks . This is exactly where the weak point of the model lies. The ban primarily affects casual players who accidentally end up on a dubious site, while persistent users continue
Nevertheless, the regulation is a lever that makes it difficult for illegal providers to easily infuse new customers. If you want to be on the safe side, it's better to stick with it anyway verified and legal providers from our test. Whether the network closures are noticeably drying up the black market or are just nibbling away at its edges, will become apparent in the coming months .
➡️ We are constantly collecting further developments relating to regulation in our Subject area law.
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