DSWV: Euro 2024 campaign must lead to a review of Interstate rules

Deutscher Sportwettenverband (DSWV), Germany’s Trade Association for Sports Betting, has stated its support for all initiatives to return customers to legal betting operators.

The trade body makes its pledge as Germany hosts the UEFA Euro 2024 championships in which “wagering by German consumers is expected to top €1bn”. As such, the tournament provides “a great opportunity to win back many former customers who have migrated to the black market”.

DSWV views the tournament as a great opportunity for German-licensed bookmakers to claw back customers, considering structural declines that have marred the Fourth Interstate Gambling Treaty (GlüNeuRStv) since its launch in July 2021.

Despite much improved forecasts on wagering, DSWV continues to raise concerns to German state governments, stating that “at least a third of this is likely to end up on the books of illegal betting providers outside of Germany”.

“The European Football Championship not only promises to be a sporting highlight, but is also the most important event of the year for the sports betting industry,” remarked DSWV President Mathias Dahms.

“We are expecting exciting matches, emotional moments and, of course, we are all rooting for the German national team.”

Monitoring GlüNeuRStv developments closely, DSWV maintains its belief that the interstate market carries a 50% exposure to the black market – the highest of any European market regulating online sportsbook activities.

DSWV maintains its warning of black market exposures, as the Federal Gambling Authority Gluecksspiel (GGL) last week launched its Euro 2024 campaign, promoting ‘legal play’ to German consumers on licensed websites.

GGL’s campaign warns consumers of “the dangers of participating in illegal sports betting on the Internet. Illegal operators do not comply with the legally prescribed measures to protect against gambling and betting addiction and to protect minors. Illegal gambling is not only a criminal offence, it also carries a significant risk of developing gambling addiction.”

Once Euro 2024 is concluded, the DSWV calls for Bundesländer to support a further review of GlüNeuRStv to revise and improve the legal market’s offering for German consumers, who are actively targeted by black market websites.

There is no player protection on the black market and no certainty that winnings will be paid out reliably – only licensed providers offer all of this. This is precisely why it is so important that people who want to place a sports bet during the European Championship are made aware of these legal offers through advertising.

Only licensed providers that are on the official whitelist are allowed to advertise their products. To give consumers further security, licensed providers also display the seal of the Joint Gambling Authority of the Federal States (GGL) on their websites. All members of the DSWV have a German licence,” emphasised Dahms.