The Gambling Survey 2023 is here. The message that the survey brings with it appears to be mixed with regard to the declared core objectives of the new State Treaty on Gambling: the number of problem gamblers has not changed significantly since 2021. Immediately after its publication, the current survey was repeatedly criticised due to the unchanged methodology, among other things.
Last Thursday, 7 March 2024, the Federal Court of Justice (BGH) was originally due to hear the question of whether sports betting companies without a German licence must compensate players for their losses. However, the proceedings were suspended at short notice due to the resumption of negotiations between the betting provider and the plaintiff player.
The BZgA offers interested parties various options for obtaining counselling on gambling or specific help with problems. All services are free of charge, which is made possible not least by broad support from the gambling industry. It was recently announced that the cooperation and financial commitment will be extended.
Strict deposit limits for online casinos are expected to be introduced in the Netherlands next autumn. According to current plans, there will be not only daily, but also weekly and monthly limits for each player. Young players will be subject to particularly low limits. But could overly strict deposit limits jeopardise channelisation?
A study on gambling addiction published by the Federal Ministry of Health at the end of 2023 raises more and more questions. According to the study, the number of gambling addicts in Germany is said to have tripled within a very short period of time. The number of people with "problematic gambling behaviour" is even said to have increased tenfold. More and more politicians and experts are now questioning the results of the study.
Last month, the renowned iGaming trade fair ICE 2024 took place in London. Here, not only gambling providers but also gambling authorities exchanged information about current developments within the industry. The German gambling authority was also represented here and indirectly complained about the poor quality of individual applications.
In recent months, many studies, reports and experts have focused on the extent of illegal gambling in Germany. The information provided by the GGL and the current channelling measures, which in some cases severely restrict players in Germany, have often been criticised. The Authority has recently responded to certain court rulings.
There are currently 39 companies with a German virtual slot machine licence (as of 26 February 2024). With such a large number of online casinos to choose from, inexperienced casino players are often left wondering what features of the platforms they should be looking out for. In our opinion, an attractive welcome bonus alone is no longer enough to make an online casino worth recommending.
Recently, there have been an increasing number of cases in which the German police have taken action against players of online casinos without a German licence. The mostly unsuspecting users are usually accused of Section 285 of the German Criminal Code (participation in unlicensed gambling). But what should you do if you receive a letter from the police and are even asked to appear for questioning as a suspect?
A few weeks ago, ZDF broadcast a report entitled "Gambling to the point of bankruptcy". The report focused on the risks and consequences of gambling. It is striking that the 30-minute programme takes a particularly critical view of the subject. Is it still worth watching in the ZDF media library?
A total ban on gaming machines has been in place in Prague since 1 January 2024. The Prague City Council passed a law to this effect about four years ago. But what is the reason for the total ban on slot machines in the Czech capital?
Just over a year ago we told you about the opening of the first state-owned online casino. Now the Saxon casino company Spielbanken-GmbH & Co. KG has drawn its first interim conclusions. Those responsible for "die-spielbank.de" are largely satisfied with the development in the first year. But is the state-owned online casino already in the black or is the project still a loss-making venture?
The prestigious Malta Gaming Authority has recently appointed a new chairman. Charles Mizzi will take the helm of the licensing authority. One of the issues he will have to deal with is the controversy surrounding Bill 55, the so-called Gaming Protection Shield, which is highly controversial in several EU countries. What is the current status of the law?
The Curacao Gaming Authority issued the first gaming licence under the new licensing system a few weeks ago. But which gambling company was able to secure the first licence and can players from Germany now also benefit from the gambling reform in Curacao?
Financial supervision of casinos is carried out by the tax authorities. They send auditors who are always present when games are being played in the casino and whose job it is to monitor the games, check that winnings are being paid out correctly, record all turnover and ensure that no tax is lost to the Revenue. In this way, auditors play an important role in ensuring that the games are fair and that no cheating takes place.
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