Critics from the Opposition and Diaconic Works voice their disapproval towards the government's proposals
The municipality of Kassel aims to establish an authorized online gambling platform to challenge the undercover market. Despite the government's approval of the venture, dissenting opinions and objections emerge from the opposition and Diakonisches Werk, aiming to discourage Kassel's virtual casino.
Kassel's Project Estimated to Cost 30,000 Euros
The alliance between Kassel and Wiesbaden, operating casino companies in both locations, and Lotto Hessen has been revealed by HNA, confirming the initial online casino project of Kassel.
Matthias Nölke, the city treasurer from the ruling FDP, envisions a "controlled, regulated, and supervised online casino gaming platform, focused on protecting youth and gamblers". The development of this platform is predicted to cost approximately 150,000 euros, with Kassel contributing around 30,000 euros. The confided investment risk is considered minimal due to the expectation of high revenues, ensuring swift payback.
Opposition and Diakonisches Werk Voice Concerns
The Left faction leader, Sabine Leidig, has labeled the project as "ludicrous", accusing the coalition of prioritizing this endeavor over prolific Kassel projects. She highlighted the February rejection of the Kassel Youth Ring's budget requests of around 30,000 euros due to lack of funds, bafflingly contradicting the now-available budget for the online gambling venture.
Criticisms also surge from the SPD and Diakonisches Werk. Andreas Fux, an advisor at Diakonisches Werk, likens the project to a possible cannabis coffee shop establishment in Kassel, concluding that the plan is hazardous.
Fux, like Leidig, addresses the potential addiction issues in online gambling. Despite the Jamaica coalition's resolve to combat the burgeoning black market with lawful gambling offers, they keep emphasizing that gaming should be legalized to challenge the illegitimate sector.
The Substantial Illegal Gambling Market in Germany
A Leipzig city-led study revealed last year that the share of illegal gambling in the overall gaming volume has been underestimated. A balanced market share for both legal and illegal gambling offers is now presumed.
The supposedly substantial dark figure also poses difficulties in painting an accurate picture of the situation. Additionally, it has been criticized that the Joint Gaming Authority of the Federal States (GGL) had consistently touted the effectiveness of channelling gambling so far.
However, GGL recently acknowledges that further investigation into the illegal gambling market in Germany is required. To this end, they have allocated a research budget in the millions.
The Progress of Kassel's Online Casino Plans
According to the HNA report, the individual parties have yet to transcend the initial planning stage. It remains unsure if the Spielbank Bad Homburg wishes to engage with the project.
Nonetheless, preliminary discussions have only occurred within the magistrate, and a vote has yet to be scheduled. Though the Jamaica coalition is capable of enforcing its majority in the Kassel town hall through unwavering loyalty from all their factions, the outcome of such a vote remains speculative at present.
The news of Kassel's collaborations with Wiesbaden and Lotto Hessen for the online casino project has sparked heated discussions. Despite Nöлke's vision of a regulated and controlled platform, Diakonisches Werk shares concerns, comparing it to the potential establishment of a cannabis coffee shop.
The opposition and Diakonisches Werk question the city's funding priorities, with Sabine Leidig pointing out the rejection of Kassel Youth Ring's budget requests while allocating funds for the online gambling venture.
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