The German Sports Betting Association (DSWV) has emphasised the importance of stronger dialogue between regulators, policymakers and industry stakeholders following a parliamentary evening held at the Bavarian State Parliament on 21 April.
Key topics included the upcoming evaluation of the State Treaty on Gambling, tackling the black market and how player protection can be effectively implemented in a digital environment.
The discussion showed that all participants share two main goals: effective player protection and strong action against the black market. There was also broad agreement that both objectives can only be achieved if as many players as possible participate in the regulated market. This brought a key concept into focus - channelisation.
The role of sport was also discussed. Representatives from leagues emphasised that betting on sporting events is not only economically important but also helps protect sporting integrity. In regulated markets, suspicious betting patterns can be monitored, analysed and reported to the relevant authorities.
The DSWV emphasises that only a strong legal market can effectively protect players, safeguard sporting integrity and sustainably reduce the black market.
German trade associations are increasingly engaging politicians. Recently, the Gaming Machine Industry Association (DAW) and the Association of Gaming Machine Operators of Berlin and Eastern Germany (AV) hosted a parliamentary evening in Potsdam, a city in the German state of Brandenburg.
The talks focused on growing illegal gambling and need for balanced regulation of slot machine operators.
Previously, legal operators such as Merkur and Löwen Entertainment have warned that the current regulatory environment is pushing players towards illegal alternatives.
The German Joint Gambling Authority of the Länder (GGL) found in a study on the online gambling black market that Germany has a channelisation rate of 77.03%
