German regulator Gemeinsamen Glucksspielbehorde der Lander works hard to stop illegal gambling in the country. The Joint Gaming Authority of the Federal States updated the audience about the progress made regarding the licensing procedure and fighting against illegal gambling at the annual gaming symposium.
Adjustments that need to be made:
The symposium was held on March 14th and 15th at the University of Hohenheim, and Ronal Benter, the authority’s Board Member, spoke. He stated: “We are on the right track to create an attractive legal market. Most permit applications have been granted. However, there is still insufficient cooperation from online gambling providers. This includes both the payment security deposits as well as any defects in individual games submitted to virtual slot machines. This slows down the permitting process and hinders the faster transfer of illegal products to the legal market. We work together with providers who are willing to legalize, and we seek to create a level playing ground while protecting minors and players. We would appreciate more efforts from the providers.
The authority was established three months ago and has already begun to produce results. The main problem is the lack of cooperationfrom online gambling providers in Germany.
The authority can take action if any violation10 is detected. Advertising regulations are also included. The five-digits penalty has been issued to one company in this month.
The main focus of the campaign is illegal gaming. While some providers have already refused to cooperate, others are expected. The company cooperates with many payment service providers that work towards reducing the deposit options for all illegal offers, making participation in such events difficult and nearly impossible.
However, all the conducted actions were related to urgent situations, and the remaining ones are still on hold.
Problems related to sports betting:
DSWV, the German sports betting association, revealed the results from last year, showing that the popularity of legal sports betting in Germany decreased in 2022. This is due to strict regulations that increased the interest in illegal betting.
It is up to the Joint Gambling Authorityto regulate the market and solve this problem. The authority has to create a safe environment for bettors and regain the popularity of legal sports betting in the country.
Benter said: “The GGL is picking up speed in the fight against illegal gambling, including in the area of sports betting and related advertising. We will make success measurable on the basis of the data collected at GGL.”
Currently, the authority is negotiating with stakeholders about adjustments that need to be made. They will work towards incorporating the improved and adjusted State Treaty regulation that was established in 2021.