Both operators, BildBet and Sportwetten.de, hold sports betting licences in Germany, making them eligible to join DSWV. Their inclusion increases the total number of DSWV members to 17.
BildBet is a result of a strategic brand collaboration between German newspaper Bild and British bookmaker BetVictor. It was launched in December 2020 after being announced in October, utilizing BetVictor’s licence.
Similarly, Sportwetten.de is a newly established division of Pferdewetten.de AG, a horse racing operator. It specifically focuses on sports betting. Both BildBet and Sportwetten.de were among the 15 sports betting licensees approved by the Regional Council of Darmstadt in October 2020.
The licensing process for sports betting was initially delayed due to a discrimination lawsuit filed in April, but it was later dismissed by the Darmstadt Administrative Court.
Mathais Dahms, the president of DSWV, emphasized the significance of welcoming BildBet and Sportwetten.de as two respected and ambitious additions to the association. He also expressed the goal of engaging in constructive dialogue with politicians and authorities to further develop gaming regulation in Germany, even after the implementation of the new State Treaty on Gaming.
Prior to the Fourth State Treaty on Gambling, sports betting was the sole form of betting allowed in Germany. The DSWV has criticized certain aspects of the treaty, such as the 5.3% turnover tax on online slots and poker, which it believes could jeopardize the success of the new gambling regulation and create advantages for unlicensed operators.
