After controversy: No more bets on German amateur football at Interwetten

There is a lot of unrest in German amateur football at the moment: almost every week there are new reports about illegal sports betting on matches, reprimands for data scouts who provide match statistics to bookmakers or even potential match-fixing for betting purposes. The controversy has now prompted DFB partner Interwetten to cancel betting on amateur matches - at least in the German leagues.

The current wave of controversial incidents, revelations and reports in amateur football relating to sports betting was set in motion by a documentary on public television. In mid-August, the programme ‘Attack on amateur football - the greed of the betting industry’ in the ‘ARD Story’ series took a detailed look at typical betting processes in lower-level competitions, which are banned in Germany.

It was explosive that neither the clubs concerned nor high-ranking officials at the DFB were apparently unaware of the fact that there is an enormous international market here and that so-called data scouts transmit central statistics on the course of almost every match in the Oberliga and Regionalliga to bookmakers so that they can provide their customers with dynamic betting options and odds.

Interwetten and its partner the DFB commented on all of this in a press release in mid-October and drew conclusions: The statement said that the bookie would henceforth refrain from sports betting on German amateur football in order to strengthen the regulated market in Germany.

Interwetten restricts betting on amateur matches, DFB praises sense of responsibility

Following Interwetten's recent decision to completely abolish odds on German amateur football, the question arises as to how much pressure may have been exerted behind the scenes? There was no direct statement from Interwetten on this measure. Instead, the DFB in particular praised the move.

It is also interesting that the press release announcing the cancellation of betting markets in the German amateur sector is comparatively brief and offers few details on the specific motivation. While amateur matches continue to be a lucrative market for betting providers internationally, Interwetten has decided to voluntarily do without them in Germany. This is a remarkable step in any case: in an industry in which even the smallest markets often generate millions in turnover, a lot of profit will fall by the wayside here.

• In its statement, the DFB mainly emphasises the protection of competition. Points of attack for betting and even manipulation in amateur football, as has recently been uncovered on several occasions, represent a significant problem that jeopardises the credibility of the lower leagues. Interwetten's withdrawal from this market segment is therefore a clear sign of the company's sense of responsibility.
• Holger Blask, Managing Director of DFB GmbH & Co. KG, emphasised that the decision strengthens the regulated market in Germany and at the same time promotes player protection. In fact, it has been shown that amateur leagues are particularly susceptible to critical processes relating to betting and match-fixing, as the financial remuneration of players is often low. The temptation to make a profit through manipulation therefore seems all the greater. Refraining from betting in these leagues reduces the risk of players or officials becoming involved in illegal agreements.

It is important to note that Interwetten only cancels the odds in German amateur football. It will still be possible for international customers to bet on lower-tier competitions in other countries.

For Germany, the move represents a clear positioning in favour of clean sport and ensures that the focus remains on promoting a transparent and honest betting environment - an aspect that is increasingly coming to the fore in the current debate.

As a bookie with a German licence, is Interwetten allowed to offer amateur football at all?

The short answer is: yes, under certain conditions. In August 2024, the Joint Gambling Authority of the German federal states (GGL) published a FAQ list on betting on amateur league matches, which sets out the relevant facts and regulations in a compact but fairly clear manner:

Interestingly, however, there is no standardised regulation at EU level. Each country can set its own regulations - and so it is quite possible that (German) amateur matches can be bet on legally in other EU countries. This leads to a certain grey area: while it is forbidden to bet on such matches in Germany, customers in other countries where there is no ban may legally bet on German amateur football matches via international platforms.

Violations of the regulations are severely penalised. If there is any suspicion that a German provider is allowing its customers to place bets that are illegal in this country, there is a risk of regulatory action. The GGL even offers a whistleblower system through which illegal betting offers can be reported anonymously. This mechanism emphasises how seriously the authority takes the protection of the integrity of sport and compliance with the regulations. The different regulations in the EU naturally make complete control considerably more difficult.

Conclusion

Image source: https://pixabay.com/illustrations/closed-barrier-tape-writing-load-4952670/