Gambling is regulated and access is restricted in all countries around the world. Specific age limits are enforced in particular to protect young people from the psychological and financial risks of such offers. The minimum age of 18 is standard in Europe. However, Belgium has raised the age to 21 - despite the fact that fewer and fewer young people seem to be gambling there. At the same time, many Belgians are not even aware of the age restriction. And what about the access age in other countries?
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.
Lars Felderhoff was officially handed over the sceptre from ‘vending machine king’ Paul Gauselmann on 1 October. We will probably be hearing or reading a lot about the new man at the helm of Merkur in the future. After all, he is now head of Germany's largest gaming group and one of the most important companies in the industry worldwide. We take this as an opportunity to take a closer look at Felderhoff. Who is he, where does he come from and how will he manage the Merkur Group?
The French gambling group La Française des Jeux (FDJ) has acquired the Kindred Group. Kindred's portfolio includes Unibet, Bingo.com, 32Red and Maria Casino. But how much money did FDJ put on the table for the takeover?
The Swedish state gambling organisation Svenska Spel is considered one of the most progressive institutions in the industry in the whole of Europe. Founded in 1997, it is also one of the oldest organisations that has been dealing with modern (online) forms of gambling and new sources of danger since the late 1990s. Over the years, it has made a name for itself with a very liberal stance and innovative prevention measures, among other things. In 2024, a special campaign is once again attracting a lot of attention: the latest campaign against match-fixing aims to educate very young people about the importance of fairness and honest competition in sport.
According to Statista, there were just under 5,000 employees subject to social insurance contributions in the German gaming industry in 2023. Of course, the monthly earnings in the industry depend primarily on the type of work performed. For example, a gaming arcade supervisor earns less than an experienced croupier or an auditor. We took a look at how much money casino employees in Germany currently earn.
Poker is known for its fascinating mix of strategy, psychology and risk management, which is required in perfect harmony for every match, especially in the professional arena. The game offers the opportunity to achieve huge winnings at international tournaments with skill and discipline, with the thrill of each competition constantly providing new challenges. Of course, all of this has also been happening online for a long time - and it was precisely in this environment that a German recently managed to win the biggest jackpot of all time.
These days, world-class footballer Alisha Lehmann is being publicly criticised. The 25-year-old is currently advertising an illegal online casino on Instagram. The reach of almost 17 million followers is likely to contribute to the fact that many underage fans are also confronted with the gambling provider. So is such a partnership morally okay?
Various changes in favour of player protection and government revenue have been underway in the Dutch gambling market for some time, hanging over the industry like swords of Damocles. New advertising guidelines and stricter deposit limits are on the horizon. Finally, the gambling tax is to be raised to more than 37 per cent. In view of the very good channelling rate in Holland, the industry is becoming increasingly concerned. The tax increase in particular is seen by many as a kind of nail in the coffin for the successes to date. Even the concession of a gradual adjustment is of little help.
In the gambling metropolis of Macau, there are obviously more and more high rollers in the land-based casinos. Such financially strong players are particularly popular both in the local gaming facilities and in the online casinos, as they generate high turnover for the operators. But how many high rollers are there currently in Macau and when do they count as such?
The Schleswig-Holstein Ministry of the Interior recently announced that four gambling companies have been granted a licence to provide classic casino games in the state. It was foreseeable that it would not take long for this issue to spark a debate. Now the SPD, which is in opposition in Schleswig-Holstein, has voiced criticism of the licensing. The plan being pursued by the state government is cynical, the danger of a further increase in gambling addiction is being underestimated and it is primarily about tax revenue. The proposal: providers should contribute to therapy costs.
In Brake, Lower Saxony, the so-called amusement tax was recently increased by a quarter. Specifically, the tax on gaming machines is to be increased from 20
% to 25 %. The local amusement arcades are fuming and complaining that it is not possible to operate economically with such a high tax burden. In the end, the black market could benefit once again.
In recent weeks, amateur football in Germany has increasingly become the focus of media attention. The attention was triggered by a documentary on public TV channels, which showed that sports betting on such games is widespread and that those responsible in Germany often have no idea about it. The judiciary has so far kept a low profile. In the latest case, however, the DFB called in the Federal Criminal Police Office: up to 17 matches are said to have been manipulated for betting purposes.
The online casino Wildz is the new sponsor of FC Schalke 04, as the traditional club from Gelsenkirchen announced in a press release a few days ago. But what is the gambling provider paying for the partnership and what do Schalke fans think of the new sponsor?
A few days ago, an interesting documentary entitled ‘Tatort Eckkneipe: Auf den Spuren der Glücksspiel-Mafia’ was shown on NDR. The documentary, which lasts around 40 minutes, is about the suspected fraud involving millions in manipulated slot machines. The research by NDR/WDR/SZ provides insights into a world of its own.
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