• Germany’s national gambling self-exclusion system, OASIS, recorded over 320,000 new long-term bans in 2024, showing a significant and continuous increase in its use.
• The system’s 24-hour self-block feature has become a key harm reduction tool, being triggered up to 55,000 times per month by players.
• OASIS is a central pillar of Germany’s regulated market, with licensed operators performing over 100 million verification checks against the register each month.
• Data shows the one-year exclusion period is the most popular choice for players seeking to block themselves, accounting for over 50% of all long-term bans.
• The number of new exclusions continues to significantly outpace removals, indicating growing awareness and use of the mandatory player protection tool.

OASIS, Germany’s mandatory national self-exclusion system for all forms of licensed gambling, is experiencing “continuously increasing” growth, according to a new report from its operator. The data for 2024 shows a massive ramp-up in the use of the system, a cornerstone of the country’s Fourth Interstate Gambling Treaty (GlüNeuRStV).

The system, operated by the Darmstadt Regional Council in Hesse, acts as a single, centralised registry that allows players to block themselves from every licensed gambling operator in Germany, covering both online platforms and land-based venues like casinos and betting shops. The new data suggests a growing awareness and utilisation of the powerful player protection tool.

Massive Scale and Operator Workload

The report highlights the immense scale of the OASIS system and the significant compliance workload it places on licensed operators. Over 320,000 new long-term exclusions were registered during 2024, a substantial increase on previous years.

For operators, integration with OASIS isn’t optional. They are legally required to verify every customer against the register before allowing any gambling activity. In 2024, this translated into an operational load of more than 100 million verification checks per month.

The system’s 24-hour “panic button” feature, which allows players to instantly block themselves for a short period, has also proven extremely popular. It was triggered between 40,000 and 55,000 times each month throughout the year.

Player Behaviour and Exclusion Trends

The data provides a fascinating insight into player behaviour regarding self-exclusion. The most frequently chosen long-term ban is for a period of one year, which accounts for over 50% of all current entries on the register. The mandatory minimum exclusion period is three months.

Crucially, the report shows that the number of new exclusion registrations continues to far outpace the number of bans being lifted. This has led to a steady net increase in the total number of individuals blocked from gambling nationwide. The process for removing a ban is rigorous, with third-party initiated bans requiring psychological and financial evaluations before they can be reversed.

A Key Data Source for Future Policy

While OASIS is managed at the state level by Hesse, its data and insights are expected to play a critical role in shaping future federal gambling policy in Germany. The statistics on the system’s heavy usage will be a key input for the national regulator, the GGL, and for politicians in ongoing debates about advertising rules, player protection frameworks, and the overall effectiveness of the State Treaty.

The report confirms that OASIS is functioning as a powerful, widely-used tool, but its rapid growth also underscores the significant level of demand for harm reduction measures within the German market.