These regulations would replace enforcement action against online casino and poker operators

Germany’s?Regional Council of Darmstadt, the body responsible for licensing and prohibition under the third State Treaty on Gambling?sets a precedent for an end to efforts to force online casino and poker operators from the market. This ends a test court case brought by?the Austrian?operator?Vierklee?that?challenged the licensing process.??

Germany’s online gambling market is set to be significantly expanded under the?GlüNeuRStV.

Licensed operators?should?be free to offer?online casino and poker operations legally?from 1 July, 2021. This was also cited in the operator’s?defense?by Dr Stefanie Fuchs of?Hambach?&?Hambach, the leading legal specialist on gambling in Germany, who also highlighted concerns that prohibition orders contravene European Union law.?

Germany’s online gambling market is set to be significantly expanded under the?GlüNeuRStV, which was?notified to the European Commission in May, operators will still be subject to a number of restrictions.?

DVTM?media association?chairman?Renatus?Zilles argued the decision should prompt state authorities to begin work on developing a transitional plan to prepare for the fourth State Treaty on Gambling?and end?a ‘completely senseless’ battle between the industry and the authorities. Zilles added:?“We can no longer afford this permanent blockade, because it only helps illegal operators from Asia and the Caribbean, who are not interested in protecting children, consumer protection or addiction prevention and also pay no taxes. That cannot be the intention of politicians.’?

The?GlüNeuRStV?will see in-play wagering limited to markets on final results and next?goalscorer. Online slots, meanwhile, have stakes limited to?€1 per spin, and states will have a veto over whether to offer online table games. They will also have the option to hand their lotteries a monopoly for the vertical.?

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