Germany to stop issuing sports betting licences

Authorities will stop issuing sports betting licences in Germany following a ruling by the Darmstadt Administrative Court.

Germany.- Authorities will stop issuing sports betting licences in Germany following a ruling by the Darmstadt Administrative Court.

The court made the decision following complaints from an Austrian operator who argued that procedures were both ‘discriminatory’ and ‘opaque’. 

According to reports, the pause in processing applications will last until further notice. 

Last year, 16 federal states ratified the State Treaty on Gambling and paved the way for operators to apply for sports betting licences.

The German Sports Betting Association (DSWV) has expressed its discontent at the halt in proceedings. 

DSWV President, Matthias Dahms, said: “The decision of the court is a big blow to our members. Even though we were promised concessions by the legislator back in 2012, an early approval, which should have been made possible by the State Treaty on Gaming, which has been in effect since the beginning of the year, is now once again in the stars.  

“It is particularly annoying that there could have been permits for a long time. The Gambling College has not been able to reach an agreement for weeks, even though decisions that were ready for decision were on the table.

“This body of 16 officials from the state ministries is responsible for the final release of the permits.”

Legislators are currently outlining regulations that will form the German State Treaty on Gaming, which will come into force next year. Stop-gap licences were supposed to have been distributed from the beginning of January 2020. 

It was recently reported that the state of Hesse had received 30 licence applications as of February, with another 20 operators expressing their interest in obtaining one.