A uniform regulation between law and reality seems to be a long way off in Germany. Especially when you look at the TV advertising of numerous online casinos that shouldn't be able to offer their services in Germany. Nevertheless, there are more than a hundred providers of casino machines that can be played on the Internet.
In recent years, numerous new platforms have been advertised on TV and radio. Exactly this should now come to an end. In a joint letter to the radio and TV stations, the media regulators of the federal states sent a message saying that the advertising of online casinos is prohibited!
Consequences for TV stations that do not abide by the advertising ban
The joint letter from the media supervisory authority states that gambling offers on television and radio are not permitted under the applicable legal situation and that the highest judge has already determined several times. The letter closes with a request to observe the ban on future advertising placements. This letter was sent to a total of 500 broadcasters and is dated February 25th.
One of the affected transmitters is DMAX. Here online casinos advertised with their offer. A spokeswoman for DMAX said when asked that it was assumed that the offers and thus the advertising were lawful.
The media supervisory authorities have already made it clear that broadcasters who do not abide by the advertising ban will be dealt with under administrative law.
Schleswig-Holstein offers licenses and gaming
The gap between reality and the laws is represented by Schleswig-Holstein. As part of Germany, an advertising and gaming ban should also apply here. Unlike other federal states, Schleswig-Holstein issues licenses for gaming.
Until February, casino providers were able to rely on a “special regulation” that allows them to take advantage of the offer of an online casino for people living in Schleswig-Holstein. However, since this special permit issued by Schleswig-Holstein itself has expired, the ban now applies here too.
More gaming licenses from Germany?
In addition to Schleswig-Holstein, which informed the other federal states before the turn of the year that it would like to continue offering online casinos, the state government of Kiel is also working on a new possibility to allow gaming in casinos thanks to a license.
This means that a cross-national solution is a long way off and is also inconceivable in the future. But the approach from Schleswig-Holstein and Kiel will certainly encounter headwinds and will also be difficult to implement.