The event, which will enter its 23rd edition in 2026, has thus been a fixed date in the calendar of the industry and the responsible institutions for over 20 years. The symposium arose from the need to create an objective, interdisciplinary platform – beyond individual interests and daily controversies. While the gambling market has undergone fundamental changes during this time, the core of the format has remained the same: to bring together research findings and practical experience so that regulation, prevention, and market reality do not run counter to each other.
On March 17 and 18, 2026, the research center will once again invite participants to Hohenheim. Those who are unable to attend in person will also be able to follow the presentations via live stream – however, this will be a pure broadcast without the possibility of interaction. In terms of content, the symposium will pick up on the major themes currently shaping the market: the effectiveness of supervision, the dynamics of the online segment, the question of the actual extent of the black market, and the role of advertising and product design in the tension between attractiveness and protection.
It is striking how much the symposium sees itself as a seismograph of current debates. When, for example, the prospects of a future State Treaty on Gaming are discussed, it is not as an abstract legal text, but with a view to practical implementation: What can regulation realistically achieve? Where are there gaps in enforcement? And how are new distribution channels changing the pressure on politicians and authorities? Similarly, research is increasingly focusing on the question of what actually leads people to problematic gambling behavior – and what support services work when gambling shifts to the digital realm.
The fact that technological developments now have their own program items fits into this picture. Artificial intelligence, digital counseling, and new forms of communication are changing not only marketing and product development, but also prevention and care. When we talk about digital support systems and AI-based approaches, it is therefore about more than just enthusiasm for technology: it is about the practical question of what player protection can look like in a world where services are available around the clock and risks spread faster than traditional support structures can respond.
This is precisely why the symposium is more than just a specialist conference for many participants. It is a place where different perspectives can clash – and at the same time a framework that brings contentious issues back to a common ground: data, legal frameworks, supervisory experience, and insights from addiction support. In an industry that is politically charged and where economic interests, consumer interests, and government goals often collide, this type of dialogue remains a crucial factor.
Now in its 23rd edition, the Gambling Symposium 2026 shows one thing above all: the central issues have not become any smaller – they have become more complex. And this is precisely what has justified the format for over two decades: providing guidance when the market, the law, and technology are changing faster than simple answers can be found.