There is never a dull moment in German amusement arcades. If you take a look at the local press, you will be confronted with robberies, break-ins and rowdy customers on an almost daily basis. In today's article, we have summarized in a nutshell what can happen in amusement arcades in a single week.
Christian_1994
The gambling market in the Netherlands is strictly regulated, but also very successful. The channeling rate appears to be excellent - and the authorities regularly make headlines for their strict approach to illegal activities in the country. The latter was recently the case again when the local gambling supervisory authority threatened two offshore operators with fines of 280,000 euros per week.
Chris_W
Large construction projects cost a lot of money and are often associated with considerable difficulties. Almost every day, there are reports in the regional and national press about blocked approvals, exploding costs or failed projects. However, disputes such as the one currently surrounding the renowned Casino Pfäffikon in the municipality of Freienbach in the Swiss canton of Schwyz do not occur every day. It involves 11 million Swiss francs and more.
Chris_W
More and more players are filing complaints against foreign gambling companies with the German data protection authorities. However, the primary aim is not to ensure data protection, but instead to reclaim casino losses suffered. But can a data protection complaint actually lead to casino players being refunded their bets?
Christian_1994
Gambling is fun and can be very lucrative. On the other hand, it harbors considerable dangers, at the top of which is gambling addiction. Such a disorder is accompanied by various, often serious social conflicts. Treatment is complex and expensive. This is why the British government recently decided on a social tax for all gambling, which is intended to generate 100 million pounds annually. Would this also be an option for Germany?
Chris_W
The new year is just around the corner and many people have made resolutions for 2025. Some gambling fans may have come up with the following idea: "I should open an online casino myself and make money from it." In fact, the German gambling market is currently stronger than ever - and statistics suggest that turnover will continue to rise steadily over the next few years. Good conditions for casino operators. But how realistic is it to enter the business - what do you need to consider?
Chris_W
As reported by BILD.de, the poker partner of the German-language TV channel Sport1 is reportedly no longer permitted to broadcast poker programs. But what are the reasons for the TV channel, which was created in 2010 from the merger of Sport1.de and Deutsches Sportsehen (DSF), to completely remove poker from its program?
Christian_1994
Of course, violations of gambling laws are not only a problem in Germany. Various offenses are also committed in other European countries. The penalties can be enormous, depending on the offense, but usually no amounts are disclosed. In Spain, however, the responsible ministry regularly publishes specific figures. The report for the first half of 2024 is truly impressive: unlicensed providers in particular had to pay several million euros in compensation.
Chris_W
Now the time has come: after a long back and forth, the first official licenses for sports betting were activated in Brazil on 1 January 2025. A whopping 71 licenses were issued. The big players in the industry are positioning themselves for one of the strongest markets in South America and worldwide. International experts and the trade press are expecting an exciting battle for the top spots. Who will get the biggest slice of the cake?
Chris_W
Regional traditions and customs are often very special. This is also the case in the Hessian town of Laubach, which belongs to the district of Giessen: here, the locals get into a real dice fever at the turn of the year. Throughout the town, people gamble in cafés, bakeries, restaurants and pubs. Young and old are involved. It's all about gaming tables, croupiers, bets, luck and (often tasty) wins. Real gambling for everyone - or just a nice, fun leisure activity?
Chris_W
In the late summer of this year, amateur football was really shaken up by a documentary by the public broadcasters: Many clubs and DFB officials realised that betting on matches in the lower leagues is an international business worth millions. After weeks of clarification and controversy, calls for concrete and effective laws against such behaviour are now slowly but surely becoming louder.
Chris_W
Gambling is one of the most popular leisure activities in the Southeast Asian country of Singapore. Last year alone, people in Singapore spent the equivalent of over 12 billion euros on casino visits, sports betting, horse racing and lotteries. And this despite the fact that Singapore only has around 5.5 million inhabitants. So does the population of Singapore have a gambling problem?
Christian_1994
Things can get heated in poker - and some people don't shy away from using questionable means to implement their own strategy. It was precisely to these people that poker veteran Phil Ivey recently issued a clear warning: You'd better not mess with him, according to the quintessence that could be read in the press. It is interesting to note that Ivey himself actually had to pay back millions in winnings because he allegedly cheated in several casinos.
Chris_W
Recently, the multi-state EuroMillions lottery recorded a fabulous win of 177 million British pounds - the equivalent of around 212 million euros - for a ticket from England. This is the third largest jackpot ever to go to Great Britain. However, the allocation proved difficult due to a particular error. It took several days to find the lucky winner.
Chris_W
As Germany's central gambling regulatory body, the GGL had a lot to do last year. It was therefore a regular topic in our reporting. Whether as an executive force against illicit activities on the local market, a warning voice for more conscious gambling - or even criticized by industry representatives and players: a lot has happened. The authority has now published a review for 2024 - and it is quite positive. However, some shortcomings must be acknowledged.
Chris_W