European Commission criticizes Germany´s sports betting plans
Friday 30 de August 2019 / 04:03
⏱ 1 min read
(Germany).- The European Commission has issued a so-called “blue letter” regarding Germany’s plans to commence licensing sports betting operators as of January 2020. The letter warns that the country’s revised State Treaty on Gambling is unlikely to achieve its aims of decreasing the size of the unlicensed betting market.
A “blue letter” is a formal notice that acts as a precursor to the launch of infringement proceedings against a member state.
The third State Treaty on Gambling was devised as a stopgap measure that will allow sports betting operators who manage to have their licenses approved by January 1, 2020 to legally operate in the country until June 30, 2021, by which point the states hope to have crafted a more permanent treaty.
However, the European Commission believes that the 18 months during which the interim licenses will be valid is of too short a duration to ensure that a sufficient number of unlicensed operators will apply for the new licenses.
In order to secure a license, operators will be required to shut down any online casino offerings, and implement a ban on in-play wagering. Players will be restricted to spending €1,000 per month, with licensees also facing a 5% turnover tax.
Despite all the current restrictions on gambling in Germany, gambling advertising spending is at a five-year peak with many of the promoted products being viewed as illegal by the local government.
In related news, the Higher Regional Court of Koblenz in the state of Rheinland-Pfalz has confirmed an earlier ruling by the German city’s lower court that so-called “secondary lotteries,” in which consumers bet on lottery draw results, may not be offered online in the country.
Categoría:Sportsbook
Tags: Sportsbook ,
País: Germany
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