In Germany, the deposit limit for online casinos and digital sports betting providers of 1,000 euros per month is a constant source of debate and a great deal of resentment: too low, too inflexible, too strict and ultimately a good reason to prefer illegal providers - according to critics. In contrast to our neighbors in Holland, however, we have comparatively much freedom for our gambling spending. Even stricter restrictions have been in place there since October 1.
Thailand is slowly but surely opening up to gambling, but there are still severe legal restrictions in place, which are among the strictest in East Asia. Thai boxer Sutthiwat, who is a real force to be reckoned with in the country, recently felt the full force of this fact. He was arrested for apparently wilfully promoting illegal gambling offers via his social media accounts. Following a large-scale investigation, he is now facing a hefty fine. He could face large fines or even a prison sentence.
There is a lot of unrest in German amateur football at the moment: almost every week there are new reports about illegal sports betting on matches, reprimands for data scouts who provide match statistics to bookmakers or even potential match-fixing for betting purposes. The controversy has now prompted DFB partner Interwetten to cancel betting on amateur matches - at least in the German leagues.
The Austrian sports betting provider Interwetten recently announced a new advertising deal with an NFL team. From now on, it will be working with none other than the record-breaking champions, the New England Patriots. What does this mean and can a partnership with a US football team be worthwhile for a German-speaking bookmaker?
Gambling associations from the USA and Europe want to work more closely together in future. A memorandum of understanding was recently signed to achieve this goal. But what is the motivation behind the associations' plans for closer cooperation?
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?
Chris_W
Christian_1994