When the GGL granted gambling operators the right to offer online games of chance, it did so through permits with provisions. These provisions included restrictions on advertising activities. The gaming businesses requested the administrative court of Halle, where the GGL is based, to suspend the provisions. They argued that the authority had not sufficiently justified the order for immediate enforcement.
In response to a petition from the GGL, the Saxony-Anhalt court reversed the ruling. It found that after a summary examination, most of the contested ancillary provisions are legal. The court specifically approved the bans on infomercials, affiliate advertising through streamers, and through partners promoting unlicensed sites. The court stated that these regulations are necessary to ensure compliance with the goals of the State Treaty on Gambling, which include averting addiction risk and protecting minors.
The GGL has had success in combating illegal gambling, just as it does in the legal gambling sector. Public gambling in Germany without a license is prohibited and can be prohibited according to the State Treaty on Gambling 2021. The reservation of permission is compatible with European law as it serves the legitimate goals of youth and player protection and the fight against crime under union law.
In May, the GGL won a case concerning affiliate advertising. The court ruled that the GGL could penalize a gambling operator that “deliberately” advertised its services on a site linked to unlicensed offerings. GGL’s CEO, Ronald Benter, considers these advertising regulations to be good and justified. GGL consistently monitors legal operators and imposes heavy fines for violations. The withdrawal of the license is not hesitated upon in cases of repeated violations of the provisions of the State Treaty on Gambling Regulation.
