German state Schleswig-Holstein has awarded five new sports betting licences to operate betting across the country. In what seemingly signals their intention to muddle through with the current law, Wettzentrale reports that Admiral Sportswetten (Rellingen), Admiral Sportswetten (Gumpoldskirchen in Austria), Cashpoint Malta Ltd (Malta), Ladbrokes International PLC (Gibraltar) and 888 UK (Gibraltar) have all been awarded the licences.
Interior Minister Andreas Breitner told the parliament: “The applications will continue to be handled promptly, the decisions are of course in accordance with applicable law and order.”
The state will have to wait a while longer to alter its gambling industry laws after a hearing on Friday. Germany’s gambling industry lone-ranger will have to cancel its current laws in order to start afresh with Breitner telling parliament it was “necessary to include the cancellation of the existing gaming act”. Die Welt also reports that SPD parliament leader Ralf Stegner warns that the government wants to “prevent damage claims” from the gambling industry firms that have already been awarded licences in the state.
Back in May the likes of bwin.party, Betfair, JAXX SE and Die NordwestLotto were all granted licenses in Schleswig-Holstein to operate sports betting across the entire nation. Since then everything has changed with a new state government along with the German State Treaty being ratified by 14 of the country’s states.
The licences last until August 26 2018 and there are still another 22 sports betting applications being reviewed by the state parliament. That’s in addition to another 22 that have applied for the poker and casino licences and they’re setting themselves up well should the current law stay in place for a while longer.
