Almost all players are familiar with the situation: online casinos or digital sports betting providers based abroad also make their programmes available in Germany via international licences, and they are also heavily involved in advertising. This is a seemingly perpetual thorn in the side of the GGL in particular. However, the authority has now achieved a success, at least in terms of gambling advertising, which could point the way forward, but is difficult to transfer to the entire gambling landscape. Here is the full story and possible consequences.
19 July 2024 was an impressive reminder of how dependent we all are on the global IT infrastructure. Due to a blackout that apparently resulted from an update, numerous airlines, hospitals and media outlets were no longer able to access some of their most important systems. Large gambling platforms from Entain, one of the leading providers of sports betting and online casinos in Europe, were also affected. What happened and what are the consequences of such problems?
The operator of the Monte-Carlo casino and luxury cruise operator Crystal are planning to open a Casino de Monte-Carlo on the high seas. Until now, the company behind the Monte Carlo casino, Monte-Carlo Societé des Bains de Mer (SBM), has operated almost exclusively in the Principality of Monaco. But what exactly can water-loving gambling fans look forward to in the future?
The state gambling monopoly is now set to disappear from the next EU member state. Just a fortnight ago, the Finnish government announced that the gambling monopoly is to expire at the end of 2026. But what goals are politicians in Finland pursuing with this and are they perhaps even taking Germany as a role model?
On 1 July 2024, the state of Baden-Württemberg took over the chairmanship of the Administrative Board of the Joint Gambling Authority of the Federal States (GGL). In order to ensure a balanced distribution of responsibility, each federal state takes over the leadership once for a period of one year. But is the annual change in leadership really necessary and sensible? And what tasks does the Administrative Board actually fulfil?
Gambling in Austria, which is actually so strictly regulated, is currently being shaken by reports of possible involvement of state-owned companies in illegal online casinos. The gaming manufacturer Rabcat and its parent company, Österreichische Lotterien GmbH, are accused of having played a double game for years. On the one hand, it was explained how harmful unregulated providers are, but on the other hand, it was allegedly making a lot of money from them.
The Interstate Treaty on Gambling (GlüStV) is the central legal instrument for regulating gambling in Germany. However, the legislation is regularly criticised by players, authorities, politicians, lawyers and industry associations. The Greens also recently addressed the issue at their annual conference at the end of June 2024. In a position paper, the party calls for some significant changes to advertising, limits, OASIS, a designated blacklist and more.
Austrians are quite active in claiming gambling losses from online casinos that are not licensed in the country. Together with Germany, the majority of such judgements are handed down in Austria compared to the rest of Europe. However, enforcement is made much more difficult by the Maltese gambling protection shield. This is also the reason why the Supreme Court has now given the green light for a hitherto unique measure: A claimant can seize Mr Green's AT domains and, if necessary, sell them in order to recover their stakes.
A new customer at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Atlantic City has won a million-dollar jackpot on his first visit. The casino resort announced this in a post on X a few weeks ago. But on which slot machine and at what stake did the player's luck strike?
The popular online slots from Swintt are now available in the online casinos JackpotPiraten and BingBong. Swintt is a comparatively new star in the iGaming industry. The company was only founded in 2019. But what attractive slot machines does the provider offer?
There is no doubt that artificial intelligence (AI) can bring many advantages, and not just in everyday life. However, the disadvantages of this branch of computer science are often neglected. For example, the online gambling industry is also concerned with protecting itself and other players from AI-supported fraud. But to what extent are online casinos at risk in this respect?
At the end of June, the Brazilian Justice Committee approved a bill that has been under discussion for several years. The approval of Decree 2.234/2022 regulates the legal establishment and operation of casinos throughout the country. It has been a long road, but it is still not quite over.
Just a few years ago, we reported on a veritable ‘casino boom’ in Liechtenstein. In the meantime, there were nine casinos in the sixth smallest country in the world. This number has since been reduced to six. And more casinos could soon follow and have to close their doors permanently.
Novomatic AG is the second most valuable company in Austria. At least that is the result of the Austrian Brand Value Study 2024 conducted by the European Brand Institute (EBI). But which Austrian company is worth more than the billion-euro gambling group based in Gumpoldskirchen?
FC Barcelona has extended its partnership with the gambling company 1xBet by several years. The gambling provider, which has a licence from Curacao, has been a sponsoring partner of the record Spanish cup winners since 2019. But how much money is 1xBet paying for the multi-year sponsorship agreement and what do critics have to say about the deal?
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