The laws governing gambling have changed recently in Germany and many other countries. That naturally relates to how the gambling market has significantly changed as a result of digitization and the growth of the worldwide internet.
In the previous century, people were mostly familiar with the gaming machines found in restaurants, the gaming options found in arcades, the upscale atmosphere of casinos, and the extravagant player’s paradise that is Las Vegas. Today, one can play online even without a login, and one need not wait around for a long time to register at online casinos. If you have a smartphone or tablet with you and have access to mobile internet, you can play anytime, anywhere.
From illegal to tolerant to legal, everything was possible.
Prior to the revision of gambling contracts, or in some cases, the legalization of gambling, it was downright impossible to try your luck at a game of chance like cards or dice, roulette, or an arcade machine. Even sports betting without account and horse racing had very limited options. This ban was gradually tightened as online casinos and betting offices proliferated, necessitating the response of various governments.
In Germany, people had been waiting for a long time before just gambling licenses began to issue. Not everyone who requested a license of this kind did so successfully. Many people understood that this was a serious license as a result. Other vendors held licenses from outside of Europe. It was not unlawful to gamble in these casinos because these nations were members of the EU and the EU’s law took precedence over German law.
New law voted in 2021 (GlüStV 2021), aims to reform the gambling industry in Germany. The relevant gambling provider must meet certain requirements in order to receive the new gambling contract. These severely restrict the previous options available to German players.
For instance, a player is only permitted to deposit a maximum of 1.000 Euros every month at all casinos. If a player switches from one type of gambling game at a provider to another, he or she must set up a minute break in between each game. The player is provided with information about gambling addiction and its warning signs, as well as pointers to appropriate counseling centers, during this break.
Gambling laws in other EU countries
The Act on Distance Gambling took effect in the Netherlands on April 1, 2021. Although the law’s name refers to online gambling, it also applies to brick-and-mortar operators. There is no uniform deposit ceiling in the Netherlands. Instead, each player who registers with one of these licensed casinos sets their own personal monthly limit.
In Belgium, a new gambling law was approved in April 2021, but it wasn’t until September 16th of same year that the previous law from 1999 was repealed. In general, gambling providers are required to only offer a certain type of gambling or wagering on their website. For providers who run both slot games and sports betting on their website, this means that they must choose one type and move the other type’s games to a different page.
The National Gaming Authority, which now regulates about 80% of the French gambling market, was established in France in 2020. Like other gambling authorities, they see its duties as including preventing excessive play that can lead to addiction, protecting minors, and discouraging game manipulation.
Conclusion
There have been some changes in a number of EU countries regarding the regulation of gambling. That was also overdue by a considerable amount. Because the existing laws were no longer enough to accommodate the opportunities provided by online gambling. With the new Concessions, a certain level of legal security has been established, greatly facilitating the Provider’s work. It won’t be possible to tell until later in the next few years what specific effects these new laws will have on products and customers.