GGL also successful with payment blocking in Switzerland

The Joint Gambling Authority of the German federal states (GGL) recently achieved a legal success against a payment service provider from Switzerland. The GGL had previously prohibited the foreign payment service provider from participating in all illegal gambling offers in Germany. The special thing about this is that it does not only apply to specifically known online casinos, but to all illegal online casinos.

Almost exactly a year ago, we reported here at GambleJoe on summary proceedings according to which payment blocking is permissible for illegal providers. Now the Halle Administrative Court has confirmed a decision by the German gambling authority. In the decision, the payment service provider from Switzerland was prohibited from participating in all illegal gambling offers. Accordingly, it is irrelevant whether the gambling offers are known by name in advance.

VG: Listing of specific gambling providers not required for payment blocking

The gambling authority based in Halle (Saale) has achieved a legal victory against a Swiss payment service provider. The authority had prohibited the payment company from participating in all unauthorized gambling offers. The Administrative Court (VG) has now confirmed that it is not necessary to list specific gambling offers by name.

Accordingly, it is crucial that the prohibition order issued extends to a broad framework. In this way, the GGL should be able to take action quickly, effectively and without great effort. In short, the court has therefore decided that the payment service provider must generally ensure that no funds flow to illegal gambling providers. This does not require the illegal providers to be listed by name in advance.

Ronald Benter, CEO of GGL, expressed his satisfaction with the Administrative Court's decision and stated the following in an official press release:

"This further success in the use of payment blocking shows that national borders are no obstacle to the enforcement of gambling law. We do not tolerate uncooperative behavior from payment service providers (...)”.

Appeal from the gambling authority: cooperate with us

The GGL is now appealing to all payment service providers active on the market to cooperate with the German authority. The companies should ensure that only payments to gambling providers with a valid GGL license are permitted. Those who do not comply with the legal requirements must expect consequences. At the end of September this year, we reported that the GGL had thanked 1,500 anonymous tips from the public.

Conclusion

GGL has successfully prevailed before the VG Halle against a Swiss payment service provider. The decision shows that national borders are no longer an obstacle to the enforcement of payment blocking. The payment service provider from Switzerland must now ensure that it does not participate in any unauthorized gambling offers. It is therefore no longer a requirement that the illegal gambling providers are specifically named in advance.

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