German Regulator GGL Bans Certain DFS Sports as the Market Becomes More Compliant and Safe

In Germany, the regulator has classified some fantasy sports DFS as illegal gambling.

The Decision

The decision by German regulator Gemeinsamen Glücksspielbehörde der Länder (GGL) to designate “certain forms” of daily fantasy sports (DFS) as illegal gambling in Germany came down in a hearing after a review of various forms of DFS.

Grounds

GGL designated the grounds for the decision on language in Germany’s Fourth State Treaty on Gambling, stating that all forms of gambling can only be operated with “strict permission” and thus discretion of the GGL.

Weeding Out Process

GGL further reported that a “well-known” DFS provider withdrew operations in Germany as a result of the hearing.

GGL Board Member Speaks

GGL Board member Ronald Benter reiterated the priority of protecting German players from addiction and illegal gambling offerings:

We find that our decisions are accepted by the providers and implemented promptly. This protects consumers from illegal offers and the risk of betting and gambling addiction.

GGL CEO Speaks

GGL CEO Benjamin Schwanke called keeping illegal gambling offerings at bay a cooperative effort between regulators and authorities:

Fighting illegal gambling is an important consumer protection issue and can only be effective if all other authorities involved, such as law enforcement agencies, pull together.

German Market Evolution

This decision comes amid the solid forward movement of the still-emerging and potentially powerful German iGaming market.

Newest Whitelister

Operator Jackpot50 is the latest operator to be added to Germany’s white list of operators approved to provide games and iGaming services to German players.

New Offering

The Jackpot50 listing opened the door for a Jackpot50.de listing.

Other Licensed Operators

Other operators on Germany’s hallowed new whitelist include Bet-at-Home, Bwin, Ladbrokes, Interwetten, Tipico, and SkillOnNet, which is approved for a multitude of sites facing German players.

New Site Live

Another new list member is 888, whose Mr. Green brand is already available to German players.

Strong Percentage Legal

GGL also recently released some extremely positive tax data indicating that 95% of bets in Germany are being made with legal providers.

Clarifying Public Opinion

This data published via press release offset figures provided by sports betting trade association Deutsche Sportwettenverband (DSWV), who lobbied that their figures showed quantitatively reduced legal market play in 2022 as a result of overly stringent regulations.

Impact of Data

GGL’s response data indicates that the German market is not shrinking but adapting to legal sites, where a high percentage of legal play can sustainably grow in size.

Outlook

Any subsequent decisions by GGL as to what constitutes legal play will effectively establish the actual offerings available to German players moving forward.