MSV Duisburg is not currently in the best position in the third division, but is now receiving additional financial support from a brand that is all too familiar to gamblers: Merkur, or Merkur Spielbanken NRW, was recently introduced by the club as its new exclusive partner. What does this mean?
Chris_W
An absurd story took place a few weeks ago at the district court in Waren an der Müritz. A 26-year-old trainee had to answer for money laundering after winning money in an online casino. But what were the circumstances that prompted the judiciary to open an investigation into money laundering in this case?
Christian_1994
Almost a fortnight ago, the first online casino went live in Germany where players can legally play online casino games such as blackjack or roulette. However, the offer is aimed exclusively at gambling enthusiasts residing in Bavaria. But how attractive is the new offer and when will players from other federal states also be able to access it?
Christian_1994
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.
Chris_W
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.
Christian_1994
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.
Chris_W
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?
Christian_1994
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.
Christian_1994
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.
Christian_1994
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.
Chris_W
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.
Christian_1994
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?
Christian_1994
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?
Christian_1994
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?
Christian_1994
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?
Christian_1994