Gaming in Germany Newsletter – Germany licenses ninth virtual slots operator

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Gaming in Germany Conference announces agenda update

The 2022 Gaming in Germany Conference – which will take place September 19-20 at the Ritz-Carlton Berlin – has released an updated agenda.

A discussion panel featuring Benjamin Schwanke, Co-Chair of the GGL, René Jansen, Chair of the Netherlands Gambling Authority, and Birgitte Sand, former Executive Director of Danish regulator Spillemyndigheden, promises to be an absolute highlight of the event.

Other notable speakers include: Nadja Wierzejewski, Dept Head Enforcement, GGL; Robert Müller-Oeltz, Advisor, Landesverwaltungsamt Sachsen-Anhalt; Prof. Dr. Christian Jahndorf, Partner, HLB Schumacher Hallermann; Ed Birkin, Senior Analyst, H2 Gambling Capital; and many more!

Check out the event's website or register today: https://bit.ly/3yWbvQS

Please note that the working languages of the event are English and German. During the first day, simultaneous translation services will be provided. More information (in German) about Gaming in Germany and the Gaming in Germany Conference is available here.

Gaming in Germany online event report | Market & regulatory update

In case you missed it, a full recording of our Germany market & regulatory update online event is available here: https://bit.ly/3Re3Rrr

The webinar featured the following segments and topics:

  • 4:05: Customer ID verification requirements (Roger Redfearn-Tyrzyk, Director of Global Gaming, IDnow)
  • 7:05: Compliant ID verification solutions (Roger Redfearn-Tyrzyk)
  • 11:40: Current licensing situation regarding virtual slots, poker, and sports betting (Dr. Jörg Hofmann, Head of the Gaming & Betting Law Practice Group, Melchers Law)
  • 17:34: The new national regulator and expected changes in market supervision (Dr. Jörg Hofmann)
  • 13:27: Remaining challenges and possible solutions (Dr. Jörg Hofmann)
  • 31:43: Audience Q&A

If you have any questions about topics that were raised during the webinar or would like to get in touch with one of our speakers, please do not hesitate to contact us.

German regulator launches complaint portal

The Gemeinsame Glücksspielbehörde der Länder, Germany's national gambling regulator, has launched an online portal where consumers and whistleblowers may report gambling regulation violations.

Specifically, the portal can be used to anonymously report instances of illegal gambling or to submit complaints about gambling advertising.

German courts dismiss player reimbursement claims

It has become increasingly common for German players to launch court proceedings to demand reimbursement for their online gambling losses, on the basis that operators offered their services illegally.

Although some of these claims have been successful or were settled out of court, recently, however, there have been several instances where district courts (Landesgerichte) have dismissed such complaints, ruling that players knowingly engaged in illegal activities.

Since these instances are adjudicated on a case-by-case basis and result in divergent outcomes, the legal exposure of (formerly) unlicensed operators appears manageable.

Upcoming events

The following events may be of interest to the Gaming in Germany community.

  • The 13th European Conference on Gambling Studies and Policy Issues, organized by the EASG, will take place September 6-9 in Oslo.

  • The SBC Summit Barcelona 2022, scheduled for September 20-22, is expected to attract 6,000+ executives. Members of the Gaming in Germany community will receive a significant discount if they enter the code GIHSBCSB2022VIP when registering through this page.

  • The theme of Kindred's 2022 Sustainable Gambling Conference, which is scheduled to take place October 19 in Amsterdam, is “Safer gambling: An honest conversation”.

  • The sixth annual Global Regulatory Awards hosted by VIXIO GamblingCompliance will take place on November 30, 2022.

Germany licenses ninth virtual slots operator

Germany has now issued nine licenses to virtual slots operators, the latest of which to Solar Operations Limited, which will join the eight businesses and eleven brands that have already been approved to operate in the country.

Of the eleven brands, no fewer than seven are connected to the Gauselmann Group. Other successful license applicants include Tipwin, Mybet, Novomatic, and Jokerstar – owned by Kling Automaten, an operator of land-based slot machine halls in Germany.

A large number of other license applications are still under consideration. From January 1, 2023, the GGL will take over responsibility for licensing from the Glücksspielkollegium.

The complete whitelist of approved operators is available here.