Germany’s 16 state leaders have approved new gambling regulations and given approval for the creation of a new regulatory body, the Glücksspielneuregulierungstaatsvertrag (GlüNeuRStv). If ratified by each state parliament and the European Commission, effective July 1, online poker and casino-style games will become legal for the first time in the country.
However, online slots will only be allowed to be offered under some very strict guidelines, including a €1 per spin stake limit. A mandatory €1000 deposit limit was also established.
Sports betting will also have some new guidelines. This will include limiting live betting to the final result or who will be the next scorer.
The GlüNeuRStv will have regulatory authority over the new gambling initiatives. This will include the issuing of licenses, working with local state bodies.
While this was a big step for Germany, not all are satisfied with the new guidelines. The German Sports Betting Association‘s (DSWV) president Mathias Dahms explained that this was a good “first step towards modern, market-compliant gaming regulation” but added that the treaty also features a number of “structural undesirable developments … which will pose challenges for future gaming regulations.”
Dahms called the new regulations “a rigid set of rules … will neither help player protection nor lead to squeezing the black market,” as the new regulations could lead people to international sites where bet limits are higher.
Even with the restrictions, businesses are lining up to receive a license to operate within the country. Some 30 applications have already been received and 20 other operators have made it clear that they intend to apply.
