Germany warns about iGaming operations

The authorities have issued a warning in Germany to all regulated operators offering iGaming products such as poker and urged them to stop.

Germany.- The online gambling segment seems to be in trouble in Germany as the authorities warned iGaming operators. They urged those offering online gambling or poker to stop, or risk losing their licences.

As the country is reforming its gambling laws, the licencing process was criticised over “little transparency,” according to some requests. That’s why some demanded the Darmstadt Regional Council — which represents the state of Hesse — to delay it.

“State authorities will not tolerate this,” the authorities said. “Once the third amended State Treaty enters into force, sports betting providers that continue to operate in Germany without obtaining (their iGaming) permission can expect to be sanctioned.”

The authorities may introduce interim laws on January 1, 2020, which would last until the end of June 2021.

The treaty’s assessment

Deutsche Automatenwirtschaft (DAW), which is the umbrella association in charge of gaming machine manufacturers and suppliers, has published a key paper. It highlights a series of changes that must be addressed before a re-regulation of the market.

DAW said that in order to further strengthen player protection, a coherent regulation based exclusively on quality criteria is needed. It also said that it should be based in its key issue paper. In it, it makes concrete proposals for the regulation of the commercial slots machines.

The association calls for the introduction of a nationally-standardised biometric access system to ensure cross-training self-exclusion. Independent certification of gambling halls, along with further qualification of access to the profession of machine entrepreneur is also needed.