Social Networks, Social Games and Gambling Monetizing the German market – top or flop?

By Dr. Stefan Bolay and Axel Knabe, Hambach & Hambach Law Firm

Online operators move ahead in their attempt to monetize the vast customer base that has coalesced around the social web in recent years. Social games and online gambling promise to be ideal candidates for creating additional revenue, not least for social networks. In Germany, however, arguably Europe’s most important market in this regard, many such business models seem destined to fail due to a rather hostile regulatory landscape. Yet that is only half the truth: The time to enter the German market is now, as it presents market players with unique opportunities. … Continue Reading

Why do the federal states forgo extra revenue of 1.5 billion Euro? – Germany bottom of the list: European gambling legislators oriented to the successful Danish model

By Andreas Schultheis

Barcelona/Munich, July 2013. The German federal states could generate additional tax revenue of more than 1.5 billion Euro between 2014 and 2017. This would require neither redistribution nor tax increases. It would merely be necessary to adjust the inter-state treaty on gambling (GlüStV), which has been in force for one year, to market realities. The model act already exists in Schleswig-Holstein. Possible tax revenue would increase by more than five times the sums generated under the current partial opening of the market. Up to 93 per cent of the betting stakes could furthermore be channelled to regulated platforms. This is the conclusion reached by a study presented by the consultancy company Goldmedia (“Glücksspielmarkt Deutschland 2017”) http://www.goldmedia.de. … Continue Reading

World Regulatory Briefing Germany – A Summary

World Regulatory Briefing met in Germany – Where were the German gambling regulators?

05 July 2013, 12:46 | by Ansgar Lange

Frankfurt am Main. The English conference organisers CLARION are accustomed to success: they organise, among other events, the ICE Show in London – the largest gaming trade show in Europe. The format for the World Regulatory Briefing (WrB) http://www.wrbriefing.com is just as successful: an international series of events which takes a closer look at the world-wide legal framework conditions for the gaming sector.  … Continue Reading

Regulating Exchange betting and online slots Spain

By Ángel Jiménez

The starting point for the regulation of online gaming in Spain is the Law 13/2011, of 27 May, on gaming regulation (hereinafter, LRJ for its Spanish initials). During its discussion in Parliament, the LRJ evolved from a rather restrictive regulation model as far as operators and games are concerned (it started from a limitation on the number of licenses and, consequently, of operators) to another in which restriction applied exclusively to games (so that only explicitly regulated games are considered permitted). … Continue Reading

WrB Germany. New Information and White Paper to the industry!

‘’Resolving Germany: Assessing the stability of the federal licensing regime and clarifying how to establish your presence for long term investment in Europe’s most profitable and complex market’’

The second annual World Regulatory Briefing in Germany is just around the corner and filling up fast! The regulation of Europe’s biggest and most profitable market is becoming more complex by the day. The multiple legal challenges expected to the licensing plans and the postponement of the new licenses will only compound the confusion for all involved in the uncertain and difficult German market.

The situation has been aptly described as a ‘’License Jungle’’ by Wulf Hambach (Founding Partner, Hambach and Hambach). Please  find his White Paper for the industry giving you an exclusive sneak preview of the German context and the key topics to be discussed on 27^th June here: WhitePaper PDF 28.05.13.

Hear from the regulators and politicians themselves… Thomas Goessl (President, The central German regulatory authority), Wolfgang Kubicki (Chairman of the FDP parliamentary group in Schleswig-Holstein & Member of the Executive Committee FDP),  and Hans-Jörn Arp (Parliamentary manager, CDU group in the Schleswig-Holstein state parliament).