GGL responds to tender queries on player protections study  

Gluecksspiel (GGL), the Federal Authority of German Gambling, has issued an open response to media inquiries related to the tender process of its ‘Evaluation Study on Player Protections’.

In August, the authority announced that it had appointed Dr. Tobias Hayer of the University of Bremen to lead the year-1 evaluation of player protections formed under the Fourth Gambling Interstate Treaty (GlüNeuRStv).

The GGL notified the public that a year-1 evaluation study had been a prerequisite of the new Interstate gambling regime, adopted by German federal states as of 1 July 2021.

This morning, the GGL provided “key questions and answers relating to the study design and the call for tenders for the evaluation study”.

The Authority stands by the objectives of the Evaluation Study, which will conduct an independent assessment of the new Interstate Treaty on Gambling’s impact, particularly concerning player protections.

The study will evaluate the technical requirements and effectiveness of interstate gambling provisions related to online gambling with the “aim to analyze both positive and negative effects, adjustments to player protection, changes in gaming behavior, and other factors”.

The media was informed of the promotion of the study’s tender which, since July 2021, saw the GGL market the upcoming evaluation on the European academic platforms Evergabe.de, service.bund.de, and Ted Europe 

It was disclosed that only ‘one bidder’ submitted a response to the Europe-wide tender, which was awarded to “the University of Bremen under the direction of Dr. Tobias Hayer, Institute for Public Health and Nursing Research”.

Regarding the tender process, the GGL stated that Dr. Hayer was aware of the planned evaluation since GlüNeuRStv’s inception but had no role in shaping the study’s design, which had already been predetermined.

As such, the GGL stands by its appointment of Dr. Hayer as the sole bidder who “met all requirements and was awarded the contract”.

When questioned about the lack of response to the Interstate’s tender, the GGL responded: “We find it very regrettable that more applicants did not take part in the tendering process. The aim of the GGL’s active and early communication regarding the planned evaluation process was to ensure the greatest possible transparency concerning the evaluation process anchored in GlüStV 21.”