Gaming in Germany Newsletter – German national gambling regulator launches new website

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Germany’s new national gambling regulator, the Gemeinsamen Glücksspielbehörde der Länder (GGL – “Joint State Gambling Authority”), has recently launched its own website.

The GGL is scheduled to be fully operational by January 1, 2023.

Until that date, the gaming supervisory authority of the state of Hesse will remain responsible for the granting of sports betting licenses. Similarly, the granting of virtual slots and online poker licenses will be the responsibility of the gaming supervisory authority of the state of Saxony-Anhalt until the end of this year.

Prior to January 1, 2023, all license applications will also need the final approval of the Glücksspielkollegium, the federal states’ Gaming Council.

On January 1, 2023, the GGL will also take over responsibility from the state of Saxony-Anhalt for the national deposit limit database, the database meant to prevent parallel play, as well as the central data vault that records relevant data for supervisory purposes.

Germany’s national player exclusion database will remain the responsibility of the state of Hesse even after January 1, 2023, however.

Although the GGL will only be fully operational from 2023 onward, the regulatory body will become responsible for combating illegal gambling offers as early as July 1, 2022.

58 virtual slots license applications – 0 licenses issued

The gaming supervisory authority of the state of Saxony-Anhalt has received 58 virtual slots license applications, in addition to seven applications to offer online poker, the Süddeutsche Zeitung reports.

However, at the time of writing, no licenses have actually been issued. One reason for the delay appears to be a shortage of staff to process all license applications in a timely manner.

Official guidance on sports betting license renewals expected soon

According to the latest iteration of Germany’s State Gambling Treaty, sports betting licenses issued prior to July 1, 2021, shall remain valid until June 30, 2022. Current sports betting licensees must therefore obtain a new license by July 1, 2022, at the latest.

The gaming supervisory authority of the state of Hesse, the Regierungspräsidium Darmstadt, has indicated that the application documents must be received in full by April 30, 2022.

Official guidance on the application process is expected to be published soon. All new applications must meet the updated criteria on social responsibility recorded in the latest State Gambling Treaty.

Annual gambling policy symposium of the University of Hohenheim to take place March 15-16

The annual gambling policy symposium of the University of Hohenheim will take place March 15-16 as a virtual event.

The symposium’s main topics are regulation and responsible gaming. Speakers include Ronald Benter, Co-Director of Gemeinsamen Glücksspielbehörde der Länder (GGL) and Matina Vogt, Department Head Gambling & Price Auditing, Regierungspräsidium Darmstadt.

The full agenda is available here.

Schleswig-Holstein to offer five online casino (table game) licenses

Schleswig-Holstein’s legislature has passed a law confirming it will issue five online table game licenses and set a tax rate of up to 44% of GGR.

Regarding casino games, Germany’s State Gambling Treaty distinguishes between virtual slots and virtual bankholder games, e.g., roulette, blackjack, and baccarat. While licenses for virtual slots (and online poker) will be valid nationwide, licenses for virtual bankholder games will only apply to single states.

Furthermore, individual states are given a choice in how they wish to regulate the latter category of games. They may either create a monopoly or issue as many licenses as the state has land-based casinos.

Schleswig-Holstein, which has five land-based casinos, has opted to make available five licenses for virtual bankholder games.

The new legislation also sets out tax rates for virtual bankholder games. Revenue up to €300,000 per month will be taxed at 34%, revenue between €300,000 and €750,000 will be taxed at 39%. Higher revenue will be taxed at 44%.

Other News

Four gaming suppliers have joined German trade association Deutscher Sportwettenverband (DSWV) as the organization’s first “partner companies.”

ICE 2022 has been confirmed for April 12-14. However, several suppliers, including Novomatic, Gauselmann, Zitro, TCSJohnHuxley, and R. Franco have decided to pull out of this year’s edition, citing the event’s unfavorable dates.

German lottery sales decreased slightly in 2021 despite continued online growth.

Lotto Bremen is the new owner of Spielbank Bremen, the state’s land-based casino operator.

The European Gaming and Betting Association (EGBA) welcomes the European Parliament’s progress on the new EU-wide Digital Services Act.

American casino developer Wynn Resorts has announced a multibillion-dollar deal with the UAE emirate of Ras al Khaimah that will see it open a 1,000-room luxury hotel there.