A ruling by the Administrative Court of Wiesbaden (Hesse – Germany) threatens to end the German sports bill’s progression which has been handled by the Hesse Ministry of Interior and Sports (HMDIS).
Following a review of the challenges brought on by sports betting operators who had been rejected licenses by the HMDIS (granted in September 2014). The administrative court has ruled that the licensing process breached national and European Union laws on competition and fair business practices.
The Court of Wiesbaden further criticised the HMDIS licensing processes stating that the ministry had failed to clarify a number of key criteria’s for operators wanting to join the market. The administrative court would pass a damaging verdict on the HMDIS licensing stating that the ministry’s process was doomed from the start.
The news of the administrative courts ruling represents a further setback for sports betting in Germany. In April the German Sports Advisory Board (SAB) announced that it would no longer participate in discussions regarding the licensing of sports betting.
The advisory board which represents the interests of several German sporting bodies including the country’s Olympic Committee and the Bundesliga withdrew from licensing procedure discussions stating that its interests and warnings to the regulator were not being heard. SAB further stated that German sports betting licensing was becoming an onerous task with a long and drawn-out process which continues to see multiple delays.
German Industry commentators have stated that they have not been surprised by the ruling, stating previously that the Hesse Ministry needed to revise its licensing framework in order to comply with national and inter-state business laws