Germany’s latest national study on gambling behaviour offers a detailed look at how people are playing and where risks remain. The German gambling survey analyses participation rates, risky play and signs of gambling disorder among adults. The results suggest overall gambling behaviour has remained broadly stable in recent years.

  • Around 2% of adults aged 18-70 show problematic gambling behaviour, according to the PGSI (Problem Gambling Severity Index) screening used in the German gambling survey. Another 5.1% of respondents display low-level gambling problems, indicating early signs of risk. Men are affected more often than women, with 3.1% of men classified as problematic gamblers compared with 0.9% of women.

  • Using DSM-5* diagnostic criteria, researchers estimate that 2.2% of adults show signs of a gambling disorder. Within that group, 0.9% fall into the mild category, while 0.6% are moderate and another 0.6% are classified as severe cases. In addition, 5.5% of respondents show risky gambling behaviour, meaning they meet between one and three DSM-5 criteria.

  • The German gambling survey also points to differences between gambling products. Slot machines, casino games, sports betting and KENO show higher shares of gambling-related problems among players. Traditional lotteries with lower draw frequency show the lowest risk levels in comparison.

  • Participation in higher-risk gambling formats remains relatively limited overall. Around 7.5% of respondents said they had played higher-risk products such as slots, casino games or sports betting in the past year. This includes both land-based and online participation across different channels.

  • Age differences are visible across the results. Among people aged 18–25, about 4.6% show signs of gambling disorder, making this group the most affected. The figure drops to 0.8% among people aged 56–70, highlighting a much lower prevalence among older adults.

* DSM-5 diagnostic criteria refers to the diagnostic framework in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5) used by clinicians to identify gambling disorder.

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