The new one has been in effect in Germany since summer 2021 State Treaty on Gambling, which aims to better regulate online gambling. But what has improved on the market since then? Are Germany's new gaming license and the associated requirements and restrictions a success in the fight against gambling addiction? Or will the ambitious goals of the Federal Republic burst like a flying balloon that hits a cactus?

The State Treaty on Gambling is here - but is that good news?

When the new State Treaty on Gambling was finally introduced in the summer of 2021 after an almost infinitely long wait, the federal government's sigh of relief could be heard far beyond the borders of Berlin. While experienced gambling experts and professional gamblers expressed their concerns relatively early on whether the new requirements with regard to online gambling were really well thought out, the responsible minister-presidents let the champagne corks pop in advance.

As is so often the case, critical voices fell on deaf ears. Because here they were sure that they had developed an excellent plan with which gamblers at risk of gambling could now be better protected.

Before the introduction of the new State Treaty on Gambling, many experienced gambling experts hoped that Germany would actually present some well thought-out ideas that would make online gambling safer, but at the same time not lose any of its attractiveness. As we have known since the summer of 2021 at the latest, the wish was the father of the thought. Because: Although the federal states have initiated several changes and adjustments, most of them are unfortunately not really effective.

A maximum of 1.000 euros per month - at least in theory

For example, there is the requirement that players only spend a maximum of 1.000 euros per month in Online gambling halls are allowed to deposit in order not to run the risk of gambling away their entire income. The 1.000 euro mark was chosen completely at random, which particularly annoys experienced players. Anyone who does not just gamble online as a hobby, but pays thousands of euros a month and still makes a profitable profit, will henceforth be forced to limit their expenses to a fraction.

On the other hand, however, there is the not-so-wealthy player, who from now on can only deposit 1.000 euros per month. For these players, however, losses of 1.000 euros can represent financial ruin. Even often with significantly lower deposits. In theory, a monthly deposit limit may be laudable, but in practice it turns out to be poorly thought out.

And it gets worse: As the past few months after the introduction of the State Treaty on Gambling have shown, the new EUR 1.000 limit does not even seem to be working smoothly. On the Internet there is a growing number of testimonials from players that show that it is possible to deposit more than 1.000 euros per month without any problems. Especially betting providers for sports betting do not seem to take the monthly deposit limit so seriously. If you do not set a deposit limit yourself, you can deposit larger amounts than German players at Interwetten, Bet365, Tipico & Co relatively easily.

How can that be? One does not know. But can you really expect a government whose Chancellor announced not long ago that the Internet was uncharted territory for them to develop laws for the very Internet whose users have long since ceased to adhere to specifications?

OASIS player system is struggling with teething troubles

Before I go into more detail about this development, I would like to take a look at the other creative ideas that the federal states have come up with in the fight against the important issue of gambling addiction.

For example, there is a so-called panic button, which from now on has to be integrated into every gaming arcade and betting provider website with a German gaming license. If this is activated, the player's account is automatically and immediately blocked for 24 hours. And at the same time, the player accounts that may be operated in parallel with all other providers that are linked to the OASIS player blocking system. Apart from the fact that the name is completely stupid, as it is reminiscent of a Britpop band of the same name, at least the principle of the panic button seems to work in practice. After pressing the button, the account is actually blocked. Further assignments are not possible within the next 24 hours. Cooperation with other providers also works without any problems. For example, if you block yourself at Bet24 for 365 hours, you will not be able to access Interwetten or Tipico for the time being.

Alternatively, you have the option of excluding yourself from playing for a longer period of time. Here, too, there is an automatic entry at OASIS, which also prevents registration at other online casinos.

Only a few weeks ago, however, an interesting report was shown on a public broadcaster. It introduced a young man suffering from acute gambling addiction. Although he entered the OASIS lock file, he managed to register with another betting provider in front of the camera without any problems. Although this also works with the lock file. Many similar statements can also be found on the Internet from players who had actually hoped to finally get their gambling addiction under control with the new guidelines. Instead, however, there seem to be considerable problems in implementing them.

Many nonsensical regulations annoy long-time gamers

Both the monthly deposit limit and the possibility of a self-lock are certainly good ideas that can help players with a tendency to gambling addiction with their problem. As long as they work. At the same time, however, the federal states have come up with a number of guidelines that do not seem to make any sense at all. In German online gambling halls, for example, you are only allowed to play Slots play. Classic table games like Poker, Roulette or Black Jack are now prohibited. So are slots less addictive than poker & co? Hardly likely.

It also makes little sense that you can still bet on countless parallel sports events. So-called entertainment bets are now prohibited. Entertainment bets are, for example, bets on who will be the next Federal Chancellor or the next US President. Both events only take place every four years, while soccer is kicked around the clock every day. Do you really have to understand that? Even bets on the winners of the next Oscars are no longer possible for German players. Several hundred live options during a soccer game, which quickly lead to multiple stakes, are still allowed.

Last but not least, there are two more requirements that make many casino fans tear their hats. You can only wager a maximum of one euro per spin on a slot and at least 5 seconds must pass between the individual spins. The latter rule in particular just doesn't make sense at all. Which brings us back to the politicians who are inexperienced when it comes to the Internet and who have probably not yet played a single second in an online casino. The fact is: Both guidelines are completely ill-thought-out and do not help to combat the gambling addiction of gamblers. So that you can assume that you have quickly come up with a few regulations that unfortunately are not even well received on paper, let alone in practice.

Many players are looking to alternative casinos

But now we come to what is probably the biggest mistake in reasoning that the federal states made when introducing the German license. Apparently, the prime ministers were sure that players from Germany would prefer to play in a Online amusement arcade want to play with a German license. According to their own statements, they are particularly safe and protected here. Perhaps it was even thought that providers from abroad who do not have the said license could be forbidden from accepting customers from Germany. However, this is a misconception. Because the Internet (still new territory) knows no borders and enables its users to use foreign offers with just a few mouse clicks. If you don't feel like the sometimes annoying specifications or would like to find new ways to trick your gambling addiction, you only have to register in a foreign online casino where German players are still welcome. Casinos from Curaçao are currently enjoying great popularity.

Curaçao casinos don't give a damn about German gambling rules

Curaçao casinos enjoy the reputation that the operators do not care a lot anyway. You have a gambling license from Curaçao and are therefore absolutely reputable. As a player from Germany, you can place your bets here without hesitation. But there is one important difference: Curaçao casinos don't give a damn about the requirements of the German gambling contract. Those who register here can easily deposit more than 1.000 euros per month, wager more than one euro per spin and play table games such as poker, roulette & co. Many Curaçao casinos also offer their homepage in German. So that you don't even have to be able to speak English. So there is no change compared to a casino with a German license.

The German federal states, on the other hand, do not like it at all when German customers play in casinos in Curaçao. Allegedly, only casinos with a German license are really safe. The truth is, however: If players play with providers with a German license, the income of the federal states also gushes through the gambling tax. With stakes in Curaçao casinos, however, only the responsible operator and the small Caribbean island earn. But not the German tax authorities.

This brings us straight to a crazy paradox. On the one hand, the German state would like to earn a lot of money from the booming gaming market with its own gaming license. On the other hand, however, you come up with such strict and sometimes completely nonsensical requirements that even the most willing players prefer to look around for an alternative provider from abroad. In which those specifications are not used. Ultimately, the new German State Treaty on Gambling is one thing above all else: an unthought-out scrap of paper that offers various cracks and loopholes in practice, but can hardly alleviate the all-important problem of gambling addiction.

Picture: Pixabay