In Germany, the 16 state ministers have agreed to double the available number of sports licenses, but rejected a rewrite of the controversial interstate gambling treaty.
The Decision
The decision came as a result of an assembly in Berlin called to discuss possible ways to fix the country’s stalled gambling regulations, which hit what can only be characterized as a solid brick wall when the EU’s top court deemed it illegal.
Some reports suggest that the EU has already begun preparing infringement proceedings.
The latest round of suggested changes came last October, and included a proposal from officials in the state of Hesse to replace the arbitrary license cap for bringing the federal treaty into compliance.
Current License Situation
The last issue of German sports betting licenses took place in September 2014. However, legal challenges from rejected applicants has delayed the activation of those licenses until this day. Last Friday, local media learned from German pool betting and lottery operator association Deutsche Lotto and Totoblock (DLTB) representatives that the 16 state ministers had agreed to double the number of available licenses to 40.
Instant Approval of Applicants
This also granted instant approval to the 35 eligible applicants remaining in the controversial licensing process’s second stage.
No Other Online Gambling
However, the expansion of licenses to other forms of online gambling such as poker games and casino was rejected by the ministers.
Sufficient for EU?
The amended treaty is expected to be signed into law in June, though it not clear whether the change will deter the reported EU infringement proceedings.
Sci Tech Lotto Deal
Meanwhile, the iGaming industry continues to move forward however it can in Germany. Private technology provider Scientific Games Corporation, known as Sci Games, revealed that it was awarded a new five-year deal to provide retail lottery technology in the country. The agreement calls for Sci Games to provide software, retail technology, and maintenance services to the Lotto-Toto GmbH Sachsen-Anhalt, with an option for the the German lottery provider to extend for five additional years.
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