What Will Happen to German Internet Gambling

If you follow any gambling news you clearly know that many countries are amending their laws about internet gambling. Some countries are leading the way such as Italy and Spain while other countries such as Germany are struggling to agree on legal issues and the US is progressing at a snail’s pace.

Germany’s internet gambling laws are in flux to say the least. The 15 German states spent months arguing and disagreeing over how to legalize gambling on the internet. However, the German state of Schleswig-Holstein went out on its own and passed legislation that was approved by the European Union to issue licenses to casino operators that passed a strict approval process. This seemed like a win for casino operators that could offer services legally, for players who could be assured a safe and secure gambling experience and for the state itself that would collect taxes from the operators.

But just several months after Schleswig-Holstein starting issuing gambling licenses, some of the newly elected government members would like to repeal the laws and return to the entire country to the State Treaty. Until the laws are officially changed, the Ministry of Interior is going ahead and issuing licenses to qualified casino and sports betting operators. However, change may come sooner than many think as 13 of the states have come together and agreed to a new 4 year treaty that allows for 20 sports betting licenses but no casino licenses.

If the law is actually repealed the German state could face serious lawsuits from the operators that went through a lengthy and quite expensive process to obtain a license since the licenses were issued for a term of six years.