Loot boxes have always been criticised as gambling or gambling-like features. WestLotto has now presented what it calls "the first concrete approach to the legal control of gambling-like elements in games". What exactly does this mean?
Chris_W
After losing more than $7,500 at PlayCherry Casino over the course of about a year, a player has demanded his losses be returned in full - with success. The Traunstein District Court ruled on 6 September that the gambling company must pay back the casino losses in full. But what were the reasons for the ruling and why is this case about US dollars and not euros?
Christian_1994
It was a real hammer blow when Malta announced in the summer of this year that it would legislate against foreign claims for losses against the domestic gambling industry. It took some time for the German authorities and politicians to react. Most recently, there have been indications of a complaint to the EU Commission. Recently, the Joint Gaming Authority of the German states issued a new statement. What does this mean for Maltese casinos or sports betting portals and players in Germany?
Chris_W
The operator of the popular Platin Casino has received a letter from the Joint Gaming Authority of the Länder (GGL). Specifically, Malta-based Red Rhino Limited has been ordered to pay a fine of €50,000. The GGL accuses the company of continuing to offer unauthorised online gambling in Germany. But how are those responsible at Red Rhino Limited reacting to the official action?
Christian_1994
Gambling is always and everywhere available online, and in particular on internet-enabled mobile devices. Similarly, advertising for gambling seems to be spreading. It is no longer just online casinos and sports betting sites that are being criticised. Promotions are also coming under increasing scrutiny. In this context, the GGL has now launched a tender for a study to clarify whether the current regulations for gambling promotions are fulfilling their purpose.
Chris_W
Online casinos and sports betting providers under German regulation were initially far from being clearly recognisable to all players. Only a small note in the footer referred to the German licence or the responsibility of the Darmstadt Regional Council and later the Joint Gambling Authority of the Länder (GGL). This has now changed.
Chris_W
On the 29th of June, the Federal Fiscal Court published an interesting press release regarding the taxation of poker winnings. It states that winnings from online poker may be subject to income tax in Germany. But under what conditions will poker winnings be taxable in this country?
Christian_1994
It's crazy how the video game landscape has evolved over the last 30 or 40 years: Once upon a time, we were amazed by pixelated strokes and dots in monochrome colours that we could move with a few buttons. Today, however, we can immerse ourselves in huge worlds and characters that increasingly resemble reality or even go beyond its boundaries. In the process, games of chance are also becoming more and more common. These are often not clearly recognisable as such.
Chris_W
Malta has introduced a new law to protect its gambling companies from lawsuits relating to the recovery of losses from abroad. Initially, the German authorities accepted the development rather passively. Now, however, there is a certain amount of resentment. What are the first reactions?
Chris_W
The Joint Gambling Authority of the Federal States (GGL) has revoked an already granted licence from the first gambling company. To be more precise, Tipster Limited's permission to organise sports betting on the internet and in stationary operations was revoked with the announcement of a corresponding notice. But why did tipster lose the German licence again so quickly?
Christian_1994
Reports of lawsuits against online casinos in which customers successfully recover lost stakes are now commonplace. Many of the gaming platforms involved offered their services under licence in Malta before the GlüStV 2021 came into force - and some still do. Now, the Maltese government wants to protect the local gambling industry from such claims with a new law.
Chris_W
A judgement given by the Oberverwaltungsgericht Saxony-Anhalt states that the collateral clause about advertisements which is incorporated in the State Gambling Act is lawful. In a preliminary redress mechanism, the court had confirmed the Gambling Authority’s perspective. We are talking here about the ban on affiliate marketing when linked with legal and illegal games of chance offers. What is the impact of the OVG judgement?
Christian_1994
Games of chance seem to be omnipresent, especially on the internet. We are seeing advertisements for sports betting, casinos, and slots in all places. Now a study has revealed that more than 90 % of these measures are illegal. Can that be possible?
Chris_W
In the past we have on several occasions spoken about the request for reimbursement of casino losses. Meanwhile there have already been several judgements which very often were in favour of the players. The judgements which very often favoured the players have led to the fact that even more legal forms want to profit from the situation as well. They often offer the players the so-called “immediate recoupment”. Should players enter such a deal?
Christian_1994
Recently the Gemeinsame Glücksspielbehörde der Länder, (GGL) which is the gambling authority responsible for all regions in Germany, registered a victory at the VG München. The authority had initiated prohibition proceedings against what in its opinion was illegal gambling content streamed on the internet page of a German TV station. Now the court ruled in favour of the authority and ordered the TV station to remove the illegal games of chance from its website. But which type of gambling was this?
Christian_1994