Online gambling soon legal in Germany?
Online casinos in Germany are currently operating in a gray area because there is no uniform regulation for online gambling. The old state treaty on gambling was declared invalid years ago. A new copy of the contract was not drawn up. Playing in internet casinos is therefore neither prohibited nor permitted. Operators of online arcades rely on the freedom to provide services within Europe and EU-compliant licenses.
On March 12, 2020, a new State Treaty on gaming was adopted at the Prime Ministers' Conference. If the new copy is ratified by the state parliaments, online casinos in Germany will be legal from July 21, 2021. The previous gray area would literally vanish into thin air.
State Treaty on Gambling: Overview of Changes
Last year we already reported on how good gambling regulation could look in Germany. We looked at a study by the University of Hamburg. As planned, a central gaming authority should find a place in Germany. She will be responsible for issuing the license and monitoring all license guidelines. The gaming authority in Saxony-Anhalt will get its location.
Central lock file in planning
Denmark led the way and Germany is leading the way. A central lock file is to help create a database that works across providers. This means that, for example, deposits at various online casinos are documented in a file. At the same time, the lock file serves as an aid for self-exclusion or third-party exclusion. Anyone who can be blocked can no longer play or register in an online casino in Germany.
€ 1000 deposit limit - monthly
The central database is fed with the necessary data for player protection. In particular, attention is paid to deposits. Players will not be able to lose more than $ 1000 a month online gambling. The set € 1000 is limited to deposit funds. Winnings are offset against stakes. As a result, they do not count towards the loss limit.
When the limit is reached, it is not possible to switch to another online casino because the database provider works across the board. As a further limitation, the maximum betting limit in the internet casino has been set at € 1 per spin.
New State Treaty on Gambling: Phase 1 survived, what now?
The new draft passed the first hurdle at the prime ministerial conference and was accepted by everyone. Now it is time to convince the other instances for approval. First, the application is handed over to the state parliaments. They ratify it, propose changes or reject it. The draft then comes to the EU Commission, which gives the final word and finally ratifies or rejects the contract.
State Treaty on Gambling: unresolved questions
The German machine industry praised the draft in the first place, even if the new contract has weaknesses. Criticism was voiced in that the new state gaming agreement Internet Casino better integrates them, but land-based casinos are neglected. The minimum distances between arcades are absurd and no longer up to date.
The addiction advice doubts the decision to legalize online gambling in Germany. The outgoing addiction potential is too high if gambling in Germany are fully legalized.
Conclusion: Online casinos in Germany will soon be legal
We have waited too long - almost 10 years - for this, but it is coming: uniform gambling regulations in Germany. It remains to be seen whether the first draft is already accepted by all liberalized federal states. The fact is, Schleswig-Holstein has so far been the only federal state to set up a regulation for online casinos in Germany. We are all the more excited about the feedback from the experienced federal state.
