SBC News Voice of the Sports Betting Industry
The German Joint Gambling Authority (GGL) has issued a statement warning of the dangers of illegal betting offerings during Euro 2024.
GGL reminded bettors that such offerings lack the required licensing standards, hence putting players in danger of gambling harm, including minors.
“Illegal gambling is not only punishable, it also carries a significant risk for the development of gambling addiction. Those interested in games should urgently use the detailed information offered by the GGL and other bodies.”
All providers that have a permit to operate in Germany are included in GGL’s whitelisting, with licence holders required to notify customers of their up-to-date certification through their websites.
Ronald Benter, Board Member of the GGL, said: “We ensure that the legal requirements for the protection of players are complied with by the legal sports betting providers. Therefore, it is important to find out about the possibilities of legal gambling before taking part in the game.
“At the same time, together with other institutions, we also fight the illegal gambling offers and advertising for them in order to ensure the prevention of gambling addiction, as well as the protection of players and youth.”
Additionally, German-speaking players can, at any point, also refer to this GGL brochure which contains detailed information on the procedures that each operator is subjected to in order to ensure that their offering is safe, as well as instructions on how to report suspicious providers – all part of the GlüStV 2021 framework which kicked off Germany’s regulated market back in 2021.
A key part of this policy is also the OASIS self-exclusion scheme, which allows players to take themselves away from gambling for a set period of time or indefinitely. Managed by the Regierungspräsidium Darmstadt – the governing centre of the Rhein-Main region – OASIS acts as a mandatory data bank for legal providers who are obliged to consult with the register and prevent people listed on it from gambling.
The GGL is also keeping close contact with Burkhard Blienert, Federal Government Commissioner for Addiction and Drug Issues, to ensure that all player protection measures are implemented effectively.
Blienert noted: “In the case of illegal sports betting, youth and player protection in particular falls completely flat, which can mean an increased risk of addiction. Together with the GGL, it is our task to ensure more education and transparency here and to protect players. For this, however, we still need a sharp legal sword in order to be able to take action against illegal betting providers.”
However, it is not all sunshine and rainbows in Germany at the moment, as a planned reform of the Criminal Code threatens GGL’s ability to collaborate with the public prosecutor’s office in filing charges against illegal gambling providers.
For the GGL, Benter commented: “We would like to reconsider the planned deletion of the criminal offence of illegal gambling by the Federal Ministry of Justice and rather demand the necessary extension of the paragraph to illegal gambling providers based abroad.
“Anyone who offers illegal gambling from abroad in Germany must of course also expect criminal consequences in Germany. These foreign betting providers also make their profit at the expense of players here with us.”
