The sports committee of the German Bundestag rejected a proposed ban on sports sponsorships by gambling companies, Yogonet reported May 21.
The committee of the national parliament was holding a public meeting where it listened to experts who testified that sponsorships provide vital funding to German sports organizations.
Association of Sports Sponsorship Providers Managing Director Inka Müller-Schmäh told lawmakers, “Sports sponsorship must remain possible, no matter where, when, and how sport takes place and is broadcast.”
The legal German marketplace faces stiff competition from the illegal marketplace, where nearly half of German players wager, according to a 2023 study by the University of Leipzig. Many attribute this to strict regulations.
Existing regulations ban gambling ads online or on TV between 9 p.m. and 6 a.m., forbid partnerships with influencers and sports stars and doesn’t allow sports clips to be used in advertising.
German Sports Betting Association (DSWV) Managing Director Luka Andric, who also spoke at the meeting, called out the “extremely strict” regulations.
If Germany did adopt such a ban, it would be joining other members of the EU, including the Netherlands and the U.K.
