GKL

What GKL does

GKL Gemeinsame Klassenlotterie der Länder is a German public-law entity (Anstalt öffentlichen Rechts) jointly owned by all 16 German federal states, formed on July 1, 2012, through the merger of two historical state lotteries: Nordwestdeutsche Klassenlotterie (NKL, founded October 9, 1955) and Süddeutsche Klassenlotterie (SKL, founded September 10, 1947). The entity operates under the regulatory framework of the Glücksspielstaatsvertrag 2021 and is supervised by the Gemeinsame Glücksspielbehörde der Länder (AöR) in Halle (Saale), with additional state supervision from the Finanzbehörde Hamburg. GKL holds the exclusive gambling operator permits (Veranstaltererlaubnisse) issued by all 16 federal states, giving it a monopoly position in the German class lottery segment. Its products target the German adult consumer market — primarily players aged 40+ with mail-order affinity — and include two flagship class lottery brands (NKL-Millionenspiel and SKL-Millionenspiel) plus supplementary games (NKL Millionen-Joker, NKL Extra-Joker, Glücksjahre, SKL TRAUM-JOKER, SKL EURO-JOKER), with jackpots up to €20 million and unique features such as Germany's only hourly €10,000 lottery draw and lifelong monthly annuity prizes up to €5,000 per month.

GKL's core technology comprises an electronically certified random number generator with digital signatures, verified by the Fraunhofer Institute for Experimental Software Engineering (IESE) and housed in a multi-secured room at the Hamburg headquarters. SSL encryption secures all data transmission for ticket ordering. The draw system uses an end-digit drawing system (Endziffern-Ziehungssystem) for SKL and a monthly class-based lottery structure for both NKL and SKL, with state-guaranteed prizes independent of participation rates.

GKL's business model is based on ticket sales priced at €160 per 1/1 NKL los per class and €150 per 1/1 SKL los per class (six classes per lottery, twice yearly). Tickets are sold exclusively through a network of approximately 36-40 state-approved lottery agents (Lotterie-Einnahmen) and 170-250 retail sales outlets (Verkaufsstellen) across Germany, supported by a digital partner portal (partner.gkl.org). Sales partners handle customer acquisition and retention while GKL provides national brand marketing via TV, print, radio, and digital channels, including celebrity endorsement campaigns with Jörg Pilawa and the SKL Millionen-Event experiential format. The company is operated by ~80-100 employees across Hamburg (headquarters) and Munich, with revenue not publicly disclosed but reflecting at least €50 million in lottery tax distributed to the 16 federal states in 2021 alone.

Name

GKL

Legal name

GKL Gemeinsame Klassenlotterie der Länder

Website

https://gkl.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2012

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

GKL Gemeinsame Klassenlotterie der Länder is a German public-law entity jointly owned by all 16 federal states, operating the NKL and SKL class lottery brands exclusively through a nationwide network of state-approved lottery agents and retail outlets serving the German adult consumer market.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

State Lottery Services

akta.pro primary industry

Lottery Operators (Government & Private Licensed) (MPAEAFAA)

akta.pro secondary industry

Draw-Based Lottery Management (Number Games, Keno as Lottery) (MPAEAFAE)

Keywords

• State class lottery
• German federal lottery
• Lottery ticket sales
• Annuity lottery products
• Lottery agent network

Headquarters

HQ city

Hamburg

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel

Revenue model

1. NKL and SKL Lottery Ticket Sales: The GKL generates revenue through the sale of lottery tickets and game entries for its NKL and SKL class lottery products. Tickets are sold through state-approved lottery agents (Lotterie-Einnahmen) and sales outlets. Los prices: NKL at 160 EUR per full los per class (6-month lottery), SKL at 150 EUR per full los per class. Los can be purchased as full units or fractional shares. The GKL regularly remits lottery tax (Lotteriesteuer) of 16.66% to 20% of revenue to the 16 German federal states.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

GKL operates two state class lottery brands—NKL (Nordwestdeutsche Klassenlotterie) and SKL (Süddeutsche Klassenlotterie)—offering bi-annual six-month lottery cycles with monthly prize classes, jackpots up to 20 million EUR, and supplementary Joker add-ons including lifetime annuity options. Tickets are sold in full or fractional shares (1/2, 1/4, 1/8, 1/16 for NKL; 1/10 to 9/10 for SKL) exclusively through approximately 36–40 state-approved lottery agents and 170–250 retail outlets across Germany.

Product overview

GKL operates two main lottery brands—NKL and SKL—offering class lottery products. The NKL line includes the NKL-Millionenspiel (main lottery with jackpots up to 20M euros), the NKL Millionen-Joker (305 extra million-euro chances), the NKL Extra-Joker (instant rents including lifetime options), and Glücksjahre (rent-only lottery). The SKL line includes the SKL-Millionenspiel (main lottery with 20M euro top prize), the SKL TRAUM-JOKER (weekly draws for cash and goods), and the SKL EURO-JOKER (hourly draws with rent options). All products feature state-guaranteed winnings underwritten by Germany's 16 federal states.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• NKL-Millionenspiel: NKL lottery game with bi-annual starts on April 1 and October 1, offering jackpots up to 20 million euros and 50 million euros in gold for special draws.
• NKL Millionen-Joker
• NKL Extra-Joker
• Glücksjahre – Die NKL-Rentenlotterie
• SKL-Millionenspiel
• SKL TRAUM-JOKER
• SKL EURO-JOKER

Products and services

• NKL-Millionenspiel The main NKL class lottery product running twice yearly (starting April 1 and October 1), divided into six monthly classes, with state-guaranteed jackpots up to 20 million EUR and the chance to win a private island valued at 3 million EUR. Tickets priced at 160 EUR per 1/1 los per class.
• NKL Millionen-Joker

Quantifiable outcome

• In 2021, the GKL contributed over 50 million EUR in lottery tax to the 16 German federal states, funding public goods including education, research, culture, and public transport.
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• SKL Glucksatlas (Assoziierter Partner)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Since 2022, the GKL/SKL serves as an associated partner of the annual SKL Glucksatlas Deutschland, a scientific study on happiness and life satisfaction of Germans conducted by Professor Bernd Raffelhuischen of the University of Freiburg. The study generates annual public relations coverage and positions SKL as a brand committed to social research.
• European Lotteries (EL)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe GKL is a member of European Lotteries (EL), the European umbrella organization of national lotteries operating in over 40 European countries with around 50 members in all EU member states and over 70 total members. EL sets Responsible Gaming Standards and provides certification.
• myclimateminorOthersGKL partners with myclimate to offset CO2 emissions from the company's annual operations and from实物 prizes (such as travel) awarded in NKL and SKL lotteries. Emissions are offset through selected climate protection projects managed by myclimate.
• Unternehmensnetzwerk KlimaschutzminorOthersGKL is a founding member of the Unternehmensnetzwerk Klimaschutz (Corporate Climate Protection Network), which supports companies in developing a climate-conscious corporate culture and building climate protection expertise.
• Verband der Deutschen Klassenlotterien e.V. (VDKL)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorThe VDKL represents the interests of the state lottery agents (Staatliche Lotterie-Einnehmer) of the GKL. It serves as the interface between the GKL and the sales partner network.
• Verein zur Forderung der Glucksspielforschung e.V.minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe GKL works closely with this association to promote gambling research as part of its responsible gaming and player protection mandate.
• Universitatsmedizin der Johannes-Gutenberg-Universitat Mainz, Kompetenzzentrum Spielerschutz und PraventionminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe GKL collaborates with the Mainz University Medical Center's Competence Center for Player Protection and Prevention on research and prevention initiatives as part of its general social concept (allgemeines Sozialkonzept).
• Landesstelle Glucksspielsucht in Bayern (LSG) - PlayOff AppminorOthersGKL supports the PlayOff app developed by the Bavarian State Office for Gambling Addiction (LSG), a free app for gambling users who want to stop or control their gambling, based on behavioral therapy methods.
• Bundeszentrale fur gesundheitliche Aufklarung (BZgA) - Check Dein SpielminorOthersGKL supports and promotes the BZgA's Check Dein Spiel self-test and information platform at check-dein-spiel.de, offering free and anonymous information about gambling risks.
• Fraunhofer-Institut fur Experimentelles Software Engineering (IESE)coreTechnology or IntegrationFraunhofer IESE verified the electronic random number generator with digital signature used by the GKL for lottery draws. The system is housed in a multi-secured room at the Hamburg office.
• vasataschrodercoreGTM or Marketing Partnervasataschroder won the pitch for the NKL and SKL communication budget at the end of 2018 and has since been responsible for creative campaign development, including the SKL Jorg Pilawa campaign and the NKL 'So geht Freude' campaign.
• CZAR FilmminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCZAR Film (Hamburg/Berlin) produced the NKL TV spot directed by Simon Verhoeven and the SKL Jorg Pilawa TV commercial. Managing director: Jan Fincke.
• Simon Verhoeven (Director)minorOthersSimon Verhoeven (director of films including 'Willkommen bei den Hartmanns' and 'Nightlife') directed both the NKL 'So geht Freude' TV spot (cinematographer: Jo Heim) and the SKL Jorg Pilawa TV commercial.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Others

• International Game Technology (IGT): Global lottery technology and services provider supplying draw systems, retail terminals, and iLottery platforms to state lotteries including many European peers; relevant as a technology/infrastructure counterpart rather than direct consumer competitor.

Direct peers

• Loterías y Apuestas del Estado: Spanish national lottery operator under state ownership; operates draw-based lotteries and instant products with comparable multi-decade brand heritage.
• Lotto Bayern (Staatliche Lotterieverwaltung Bayern): Bavaria's state lottery operator; one of the largest German state lottery companies by revenue, offering directly comparable draw-based, instant, and sports-betting products under the same Glücksspielstaatsvertrag regulatory regime.
• Lotto Berlin: Berlin's state lottery operator; another German state lottery offering class-style and instant-win products under the same federal regulatory framework.
• Österreichische Lotterien: Austrian national lottery operator; comparable government-backed monopoly structure with class lottery and instant products, providing a useful cross-border benchmark.
• WestLotto (Westdeutsche Lotterie GmbH & Co. OHG): Operator of the North Rhine-Westphalia state lottery under similar German state-supervisory framework; directly comparable as a regional German lottery operator offering class-style and instant products to a similar consumer base.
• Lotto Rheinland-Pfalz: State lottery of Rhineland-Palatinate, also established as Anstalt öffentlichen Rechts; comparable structure, product mix, and supervisory regime as GKL.
• Camelot Group (UK National Lottery): Operator of the UK National Lottery under government license; comparable licensed-monopoly lottery operator model with draw-based games and broad retail distribution.

Broad incumbents

• Française des Jeux (FDJ): French national lottery operator with a partially privatized ownership structure; offers a broader portfolio (draw games, scratch, sports betting, online) and serves as a benchmark for state-backed lottery operators in Europe.
• Lottomatica (Flutter Group): Italian licensed lottery and gaming operator now part of Flutter; offers AAMS-licensed draw-based and instant lottery alongside sports betting and online gaming, providing a private-sector benchmark for Italian market operations.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/Nkl_klassenlotterie

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about GKL