GGL study on player protection initiated

The creation of the best possible conditions for the protection of gamblers in Germany is one of the main objectives of the State Treaty on Gambling of 2021 and thus of the responsible Joint Gambling Authority of the Federal States (GGL). A study is now to be carried out to determine whether and how the measures implemented to date are having the desired effect.

The State Treaty on Gaming, the associated player protection and the ultimate consequences for German casino and sports betting fans are topics that have been on the minds of many of us since June 2021 at the latest. Time and again, players in particular have criticised the fact that the numerous - and in some cases very restrictive - measures are having the opposite effect to the desired security effect: in order to circumvent them, more and more players are simply turning to the black market. We read about this in our community on an almost daily basis.

Criticism is also coming from other quarters: Gauselmann manager Lars Felderhoff recently warned in an ntv podcast that the German gaming market is not competitive under these conditions (or with its many restrictions). He went on to say that it would not be surprising if many players turned to illegal services.

The study now initiated by the GGL, "Gamer Protection on the Internet: Evaluation of the Measures of the State Treaty on Gaming 2021" could fuel the debate or bring it to a halt and perhaps even contribute massively to an adaptation of the GlüStV. The study is being conducted by the University of Bremen.

What exactly are the goals of the GGL's player protection study?

According to the GGL, the focus of the study is to evaluate the effects of all measures laid down in the GlüStV - especially those relating to player protection. This concerns both the general technical processes as well as the game form. This includes online gaming, which has long been eligible for a licence, as well as new forms of gaming, which are also eligible for a licence.

This means in detail:

• The focus is on the licensing and implementation of specific player protection approaches. The aim is to highlight their positive and possibly negative effects.
• There will also be a focus on practicality, adjustments to player protection requirements, changes in gaming behaviour and other related issues.

However, the initial analyses and evaluations are not yet final. The GGL announces a comprehensive evaluation of the measures of the State Treaty on Gaming 2021 for the year 2026.

The contract for the research was awarded to the University of Bremen

The University of Bremen is responsible for carrying out the study. It will be conducted under the direction of Dr. Tobias Hayer at the Institute for Public Health and Nursing Research (IPP), according to the GGL press release.

Hayer himself writes on LinkedIn: "I am very pleased with this award and hope that the results will make a substantial contribution to the evaluation of the State Treaty on Gambling.“

The IPP of the University of Bremen was founded in 2005 as a scientific institution of the Faculty 11 Human and Health Sciences. Today, research and teaching is carried out in nine departments and working groups. According to the IPP, more than 60 scientists work for the department. It claims to be one of Germany's leading research institutes in this field. The main aim of research and teaching is to improve the health and well-being of the population.

This concern, as well as the context of knowledge targeted by the study, coincides ideally with the self-described strengths of the IPP: namely, interdisciplinary health and nursing research, research-oriented teaching in health and nursing courses and, above all, the transfer of science into practice, politics and society.

Conclusion

Image source: https://pixabay.com/de/photos/bremen-architektur-stadt-urban-8125352/