Germany’s Snap Election Won’t Help Drive Gambling Reform
Germany is widely tipped to be heading for a change of government after its snap general election on Feb. 23. The pro-business Christian Democrats Union (CDU) party and its Bavarian sister party, the Christian Social Union (CSU) are most likely to take the reins.
But despite the CDU and CSU’s pro-business policies, the election is unlikely to change much for Germany’s licensed online gambling operators.
That’s because, under Germany’s federal system, gambling is in the hands of the states. Even the proceeds from gambling taxation – which the central government technically controls – are paid out to state governments.
“The federal government just has a formal role and usually they do whatever the states ask them to do,” Luka Andric, managing director at the German Sports Betting Association (DOSW), told iGB in a recent interview.
This means that even the debate on the controversial 5.3 percent stake tax for online casino games would have to start on the regional level, rather than in the finance ministry.
Although they don’t hold much hope of sweeping reforms in 2025, industry stakeholders in Germany are looking forward to 2027, when the states could make much broader changes to the Interstate Treaty, which governs gambling regulations in the market.
“We are about to embark on that political process where we are already looking towards the new future state treaty – and that conversation is starting now,” said Andric. “This political debate about gambling, that’s what we need to focus on as an industry, and these are long processes.”
Netherlands New Gambling Bill Expected by End of 2025
A new gambling bill is expected in the Netherlands by the end of 2025. State secretary for legal protection Teun Struycken has proposed lowering the age limit for online slots to 21.
In December Struycken told the Dutch parliament he was working on an updated gambling policy and planned to present this to policy makers in March this year.
The government initiated this review last year and published its findings in November. It said measures to encourage responsible gambling and protect players from harm were failing.
In his latest update to parliament, dated Feb.14, Struycken said a bill to update the regulations would be finalized by the end of 2025.
Struycken said the main goal for the new gambling law was “to protect all citizens against the risks of gambling. So also people who do not (yet) gamble.”
There are ongoing discussions over whether new measures can be implemented earlier than intended, such as increasing operators’ duty of care to players and the current gambling ad restrictions.
But on Feb.18 chairman of the gambling regulator Michel Groothuizen discouraged the government from raising the legal gambling age from 18, as he said it would likely push young gamblers to the black market.
“For young people under 21, the illegal supply will still be accessible with a few mouse clicks, while they will no longer be able to enter legal parties, which must adhere to a strict duty of care,” he said.
Norwegian Monopoly Faces $3.2 Million Fine Over Self-Exclusion Failure
Norsk Tipping is facing a fine of up to $3.2 million for preventing players from self-excluding from their gambling accounts due to a bug brought about by an iOS update. By law the operator must enable players to self-exclude at any time across all available platforms.
But in a statement dated Feb.14, the Norwegian Lottery Authority (Lotteritilsynet) said Norsk Tipping had reported issues with an iOS update that meant players were not able to self-exclude via the app between January and May of last year.
The fine is based on 0.35 percent of its 2024 net turnover which hit $918 million. The operator has three weeks to respond before the regulator makes a final decision on the case.
BHA: Horse Racing Betting Turnover Impacted by Financial Risk Checks
The British Horseracing Authority (BHA) has blamed the Gambling Commission’s financial risk checks for falling betting revenue in 2024, as it says punters have moved to unlicensed operators.
In its BHA racing report 2024 published on Feb.19, the authority stated that total betting turnover fell by 6.8 percent in comparison to the previous year. This is a 16.5 percent downturn when compared to 2022.
BHA Director of Racing Richard Wayman wrote in the report that he has “no doubt” that the drop in betting revenue was “headed by the impact of affordability checks.”
Wayman said these have resulted in people either stopping betting or placing wagers with unlicensed operators where these checks do not take place.
This past August, the Gambling Commission launched its financial risk checks pilot. The risk checks trigger when a player hits a monthly betting deposit of $633 or above. From Feb. 28 checks will be triggered when a player hits a net deposit of $190 or higher.
In a statement sent to iGB the Commission said: “We note a BHA employee has offered their personal view on the impact of what they describe as ‘affordability’ checks, but there is little by way of evidence provided in the report to support their opinion.”
