Gambling Legislation

Germany Has Its First Licenses for Commercial Live Casino Operators

Germany Has Its First Licenses for Commercial Live Casino Operators

The country is advancing its online gaming market, but only with small steps

Germany has issued its first licenses for commercial live casino operators, marking a significant step forward in the country’s regulated online gambling landscape. On September 18, Tipico, BluBet, Austrian operator Cashpoint, and Skill on Net were all granted permission to offer online casino games. This move aims to create a safer and more regulated environment for players, as outlined by Schleswig-Holstein’s interior minister, Sabine Sütterlin-Waack. She emphasized that providing legal options is crucial to diverting players from unregulated sites and reinforcing the legal gambling market.

The licensing process allows operators to offer a range of online casino games, including slots and poker, under the supervision of Germany’s federal gambling regulator, Gemeinsamen Glücksspielbehörde der Länder (GGL). Established in July 2022, the GGL replaced the Saxony-Anhalt State Administration Office, consolidating the regulatory oversight of online gambling. However, each of Germany’s 16 states retains the power to independently issue licenses for online table games, a provision included in the State Treaty on Gambling (GlüNeuRStv), which took effect on July 1, 2021.

The industry has welcomed this development, seeing it as a positive step toward a safer and more structured gambling environment. Christian Heins, Tipico’s iGaming director, expressed his enthusiasm, especially for the license obtained in Schleswig-Holstein, his home state. He also mentioned plans to engage with casino table game providers to enhance their offerings.

Austrian gambling trade body OVWG has also shown support for the licensing, stating that the new framework provides a safe and regulated environment that could serve as a model for other German states. Despite this progress, Germany continues to face challenges with its black market, which has grown due to regulatory delays and advertising restrictions. While the GGL estimates that the black market represents around 4% of the sector’s total gross gaming revenue, some industry experts argue that the figure could be as high as 20% for online gambling.

This new wave of licensing is seen as a crucial step in combating illegal gambling and ensuring that players have access to safer, regulated options.

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