Gambling Supervision Authority Germany

admin 7/30/2022

The Gambling Regulatory Authority is a body corporate established in 2007 which now operates under the aegis of the Ministry of Finance, Economic Planning and Development. The Authority is administered and managed by a Gambling Regulatory Board. GERMANY Gambling Supervision Authority. Gibraltar Regulatory Authority. Gambling Commission. GREECE Hellenic Gaming Commission. Tax and Financial Control Administration. IRELAND Department of Justice. ISLE OF MAN Gambling Supervision Commission. ITALY Autonomous Administration of State Monopolies. The gaming authority endeavors to block money transactions to unlicensed online gambling businesses illegally offering Internet gambling in Lithuania. Germany: German Sports Betting Association (DSWV) Until 2008 there was no regulation of gambling in Germany and the laws did not address online gambling. In 2011 one of Germany’s 16 constitutive states, Schleswig-Holstein (Hamburg) passed legislation.

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Head Office

Ground Floor

St George's Court

Myrtle Street

Douglas

Isle of Man

IM1 1ED

CEO:

Steve Brennan

Coronavirus (COVID-19): Important Information
The GSC has three messages to those who rely upon its supervision to keep gambling safe. To those who choose to gamble with our licensees, the GSC is fully operational and continues to supervise the Isle of Man's regulated gambling sector. This means that all of the regulations designed to keep you safe are still being monitored and if you encounter difficulties with a gambling operator that you cannot resolve, you can contact the GSC via its website to lodge a complaint and the complaint will be dealt with. To those who are supervised by us, we take it for granted that you continue to implement the high standards expected of you with respect to player safety and the protection of funds. We also recognise that it is a time of significant economic distortion and so we are prioritising measures that help you adapt to the changes you are experiencing. You should continue dialogue with us so that we can accommodate difficulties in a way that both meet our mandate for protection and your commercial realities. To those who intend to license with us, it remains our aim to throw our regulatory umbrella of protection over as many people as possible, so we continue to accept applications for licensing. Covid-19 update 5th May 2020 Some trends have emerged during the lockdown. Please see our comments below. We have become aware of a number of gambling websites, which claim to be licensed by us, but which are not. When we become aware of these sites, we list them on our website's rogue's gallery. While the GSC does make some attempts to remove any false reference to being licenced by the GSC, unfortunately there is little of practical use that we can do to shut these sites down, because they operate outside the Isle of Man. If you gamble with these sites, you may not have the same protections that you have on genuine Isle of Man licensed sites. We've observed a surge in DIY-gambling using social media and tele-conferencing apps such as Facebook, Zoom, Skype etc. If you use your computer in the Isle of Man to organise these without first having a licence, then you're breaking the law. There are exceptions for charities and private clubs. We're very aware that not many people understand that there is specific law to cover gambling and fewer still who know the details. However gambling, even when privately organised locally between friends carries risks that our law regulates, which is why we operate a system of licensing. We are reasonable when we become aware of these activities, but if you are offering gambling that is regular and from which you or your company benefits, then you should either cease or approach us for details of licensing. Finally, if you are a licensee, please be aware that we have modified our policy in the following areas. If you have not been made aware of these changes, please contact us for details. The areas are: Revised policy on the restriction of directorships in the sector; Revised policy on the addition of live dealer studios.

Coronavirus (COVID-19): Important Information

The GSC has three messages to those who rely upon its supervision to keep gambling safe.
To those who choose to gamble with our licensees, the GSC is fully operational and continues to supervise the Isle of Man's regulated gambling sector. This means that all of the regulations designed to keep you safe are still being monitored and if you encounter difficulties with a gambling operator that you cannot resolve, you can contact the GSC via its website to lodge a complaint and the complaint will be dealt with.
To those who are supervised by us, we take it for granted that you continue to implement the high standards expected of you with respect to player safety and the protection of funds. We also recognise that it is a time of significant economic distortion and so we are prioritising measures that help you adapt to the changes you are experiencing. You should continue dialogue with us so that we can accommodate difficulties in a way that both meet our mandate for protection and your commercial realities.
To those who intend to license with us, it remains our aim to throw our regulatory umbrella of protection over as many people as possible, so we continue to accept applications for licensing.

Covid-19 update 5th May 2020
Some trends have emerged during the lockdown. Please see our comments below.
We have become aware of a number of gambling websites, which claim to be licensed by us, but which are not. When we become aware of these sites, we list them on our website's rogue's gallery. While the GSC does make some attempts to remove any false reference to being licenced by the GSC, unfortunately there is little of practical use that we can do to shut these sites down, because they operate outside the Isle of Man. If you gamble with these sites, you may not have the same protections that you have on genuine Isle of Man licensed sites.
We've observed a surge in DIY-gambling using social media and tele-conferencing apps such as Facebook, Zoom, Skype etc. If you use your computer in the Isle of Man to organise these without first having a licence, then you're breaking the law. There are exceptions for charities and private clubs. We're very aware that not many people understand that there is specific law to cover gambling and fewer still who know the details. However gambling, even when privately organised locally between friends carries risks that our law regulates, which is why we operate a system of licensing. We are reasonable when we become aware of these activities, but if you are offering gambling that is regular and from which you or your company benefits, then you should either cease or approach us for details of licensing.
Finally, if you are a licensee, please be aware that we have modified our policy in the following areas. If you have not been made aware of these changes, please contact us for details. The areas are:

Revised policy on the restriction of directorships in the sector;
Revised policy on the addition of live dealer studios.

The Gambling Supervision Commission is an independent statutory board established in 1962.

In addition to the licensing and regulation of land-based gambling operations (casino, amusement and slot machines, betting offices and lotteries), the Commission also regulates all online gambling activities, which have grown significantly in recent years.

The core principles the commission upholds are

to keep the gambling industry crime free.
to protect the young and those at risk.
to ensure that the services offered by licence holders are fair and that players receive their true winnings.

The commission services includes: Anti-money laundering, application forms and guidance notes, current licence holders, disaster recovery providers, memorandums of understanding, Software Supplier Register, testing companies and player protection information.

Should you wish to contact the Commission to raise a complaint regarding an operator, then please complete our complaints_form (which must be in English).

The Treasury devotes resources to the Commission which is made up of a Chief Executive Officer (formerly Director), Deptury Chief Executive, Licensing & Compliance Director, Operational Manager, six Inspectorate Officers and two Secretaries.

The Department for Enterprise is in charge of developing the island as a progressive jurisdiction for e-gambling and they interface with other departments of Government in promoting the island’s e-commerce opportunities.

Find out more

News

Consultations

Legislation

Similar to the United States, Germany does not have any national regulation on gambling. Unlike the rest of Europe, even lotteries are a matter for state regulation instead of federal management. Generally, the Ministry of the Interior for each state will be responsible for gambling legislation.

What’s truly unique to Germany is the way that interstate treaties are handled. Usually, one of the 16 states is assigned as the leader or contact point for the treaty.

For example, Lower Saxony is responsible for interstate lottery matters. So instead of licensing with a number of individual states, a lottery provider can work with Lower Saxony to expedite the process.

History of Gambling Law in Germany

Much like other infrastructure, gambling in Germany was destroyed in World War II. After the war, Germany drew up a fresh constitution. That document made gambling law in Germany a matter for the individual states — at least in the west.

Similar to other countries, German gambling laws focused on lotteries and sports betting, including horse racing, at the start. Casino laws were restrictive. Some states placed residency requirements on casino-goers. These restrictions softened over the years and were gone by 1995.

East German gambling laws only allowed lotteries and betting on horse races — no sports betting, no casinos. After the Reunification in 1990, casinos exploded across the former GDR.

In 2008, the Glücksspielstaatsvertrag (GlüStV), or Interstate Gambling Treaty, was passed. It didn’t last long, as the European Supreme Court found it went against EU rules for fair competition. This re-opened the field.

The first revision to the treaty (GlüÄndStV) came in 2011 and was passed in 2012. This update allowed for online lotteries, interstate lottery jackpots, and casino advertising. Additionally, it allowed 20 bookmakers to operate independently of the state monopoly.

The state of Schleswig-Holstein originally abstained from the treaty and awarded licenses to a handful of online casino operators. In 2012, the state’s government changed and then decided to join the treaty. They allowed the online operators to keep their licenses through 2018.

Recently, Schleswig-Holstein proposed to extend their original licenses through 2021, when the current German online gambling law is set to expire.

German Gambling Laws by Betting Type

In-person card games and table games are absolutely legal. Games with buy-ins under €15 can be run without a state permit. Higher buy-ins will require a state license and are therefore only found at casinos.

Gambling Supervision Authority Germany Jobs

It’s only when you get to online gambling laws in Germany that things get really tough. Poker and other card games fall under the GlüStV and are banned.

Sports Betting

Sports betting is legal! Germany has a totalized sports betting offering called Oddset available online and off. Additionally, land-based bookmakers are usually available.

Schleswig-Holstein permitted 20 bookies to operate online in 2011. They extended licenses only for a select number of original licensees.

888sport
Admiral
Bwin
Cashpoint (also owns Xtip and sportwetten.de)
Tipico
Stargames
LeoVegas
Btty

You’ll see some of these companies in our list of the top German gambling sites. We’ve included some of the other major players who didn’t get a license from Schleswig-Holstein as well. These sites aren’t bad; they just weren’t lucky enough to get a license before they ran out.

Lotteries are big business in Germany. Since each state can make its own rules, there are a number of popular public and private lotteries. The main lottery is an organization that coordinates all the individual state lotteries: the DLTB. This includes lotteries and totalized sports betting.

There’s also a lottery organization for the two class lotteries. Some of the most popular games include Germany Lotto, GlücksSpirale, 6aus49, and class lotteries.

In what seems to be a pretty unique situation, TV stations actually run lotteries. The main ones are Aktion Mensch and Die Fernsehlotterie.

Since online gambling laws in Germany allow for lotteries to be run online, you can play your favorite lottery at any time. You don’t have to call in or walk to the store for a ticket. Simply go online and pick your numbers.

Gambling supervision authority germany jobs

Slots

Slots are available at casinos and slot salons. There are casinos in 14 of Germany’s 16 states. Only Thuringia and Mecklenburg-Vorpommern do not have casinos. Some casinos are state-owned, and some are private. This depends on which state the casino is located in. The majority of casinos are under state ownership.

In addition to casinos, slots appear in slot halls. These businesses provide slots and other games, similar to the “Kleines Glücksspiel” in Austria. There are limits on the amount you can bet and therefore how much you can win in these places, along with other rules to prevent addiction or abusive play.

German online gambling laws right now do not allow online slot play. However, the law has been declared invalid by the European high court. So online slots are a grey area again.

Schleswig-Holstein has taken a surprising move and moved to renew the online casino licenses that it gave out in 2011. These casino licenses are currently expired and should be voted on in May 2019.

Those license holders are as follows.

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Cashpoint (Malta) Ltd.
Admiral GmbH
ODDSET Deutschland Sportwetten GmbH
Oddsline Entertainment AG
Primebet International Ltd.
Bwin ElectraWorks Ltd.
Digibet Ltd.
Bet-at-home.com Internet Ltd.
Ladbrokes International PLC
Bet90 Ltd.
Deutsche Sportwetten GmbH
Mybet Personal Exchange International Ltd.
Betfair Polco Ltd.
Intermedia GmbH
Bernd Hobiger Wettbüro Goldesel
RULEO Alpenland GmbH
Racebets International Gaming Ltd.
Albers Wettbörsen Deutschland oHG mbH
Bet3000 IBA Entertainment Ltd.
Star Sportwetten GmbH

If you want to gamble in person, there are a variety of methods in all states. There are more than 60 casinos in 14 states that offer slots and table games as well as more than 9,000 slot halls across the country.

You can participate in totalized sports betting and a variety of lottery products at many newsstands and tobacconists. Land-based private bookmakers are also common in every state.

The only place you can’t gamble is online — and that’s only partial. Online gambling laws in Germany let you play the lottery online, and you can bet on sports and horse races online through the lottery. You just can’t play slots online 100% legally. It’s currently a grey market.

Summary

Gambling laws in Germany are definitely unique. Casinos and lotteries can be publicly or privately owned. Sports betting is available through the lottery and through private bookmakers as well. And there are also thousands of small slot halls for your gambling pleasure.

Gambling Supervision Authority Germany International

Online is more controlled, but it looks like there will be some changes to the German online gambling laws through the actions of Schleswig-Holstein. However, if the government there changes in the next election, any progress could grind to a halt.