Whiff of a Scandalous Gambling Agreement: The Infamous Schufa-G Info Revealed
Gambling Controversy: Confidential Arrangement Boosts Deposit Thresholds Using Schufa-G Data
By Timm Schaffner, edited by Angela Burke
Unleashed on: 06.03.2025. Last Updated: 30.04.2025.
In a staggering exposé, German media has laid bare a stealthy alliance between state interior ministers and online gambling providers. The aim? A sneaky workaround to the deposit limits of 1,000 euros per month set by the State Treaty on Gambling. How? Through the infamous Schufa-G information.
Sneaky Agreement Contravenes Player Protection. © Agence Olloweb/unsplash.com
The Unmasking: A Scandal Unearthed
As per the legal stipulations, gamblers should only be granted higher deposit limits if they can prove their financial might, as stated in § 6c (1) (3) of the State Treaty on Gambling 2021. This protects players from gambling their last euro. But instead of giving players a thorough financial appraisal, authorities are using Schufa-G information, according to Tagesschau.
A leaked document revealing an agreement between the federal states and Tipico, a gambling provider, published by network Investigate Europe, shows that the states allowed providers to boost player limits through a simplified Schufa information query.
But Schufa-G information, just a general creditworthiness query, doesn't paint a complete fiscal picture. As demonstrated by Investigate Europe's research team, a student with just 1,000 euros a month could potentially hike their monthly deposit limit to a whopping 10,000 euros.
The Judge's Verdict: Schufa-G Unfit for Duty
The legality of Schufa-G information in relation to increased deposit limits has already been addressed. The Higher Administrative Court of Saxony-Anhalt declared in December 2024 that Schufa information is inappropriate for determining a player's financial capabilities. The Joint Gambling Authority of the States (GGL) recommended the development of a suitable alternative. Yet, it appears that this hasn't altered the current Schufa-G-based limit-boosting practices.
What Comes Next: A Storm on the Horizon
Gambling addiction researchers and consumer advocates, including Burkhard Blienert, Germany's drug and addiction commissioner, and Tobias Hayer, an addiction expert from the University of Bremen, have forewarned the potential financial ruin of players due to this practice. Providers, they claim, may actively endorse high losses.
The secrecy surrounding this regulation fuels public and political ire. Consumer advocates demand income proof or bank statements as the foundation for a limit increase rather than the controversial Schufa-G information. Whether more courts will tackle the Schufa-G matter and the GGL's power to block limit increases remains to be seen.
[1] Source: Wellgrounded Financial Glossary and Trading Terms (https://www.wellgrounded.de/de/wissen/glossar-und-lexikon-finanzwirtschaft-bank dieser Website enthält kein relevantes Informationen in Bezug auf den rechtlichen Status des Einsatzes von Schufa-G Informationen zur Steigerung von Einzahlungsgrenzen im deutschen Glücksspielbereich. Die verfügbaren Quellen beziehen sich lediglich auf allgemeine Glossar- und Finanzwirtschafts termine, nicht auf rechtliche Herausforderungen oder regulatorische Entwicklungen im Zusammenhang mit Schufa oder Einzahlungsgrenzen.)
- The infamous Schufa-G information has been a point of controversy, as it was revealed to be used by gambling providers in a covert agreement with state interior ministers.
- The aim of the agreement was to bypass the deposit limits of 1,000 euros per month set by the State Treaty on Gambling.
- As per legal stipulations, higher deposit limits should only be granted if gamblers can prove their financial might, but instead, authorities were reportedly using Schufa-G information.
- Schufa-G information is a general creditworthiness query, and it doesn't provide a complete fiscal picture.
- For instance, a student with just 1,000 euros a month could potentially increase their monthly deposit limit to 10,000 euros.
- The Higher Administrative Court of Saxony-Anhalt declared in December 2024 that Schufa information is inappropriate for determining a player's financial capabilities.
- Gambling addiction researchers and consumer advocates have warned about the potential financial ruin of players due to this practice and possible endorsement of high losses by providers.
- The secrecy surrounding this regulation and the GGL's power to block limit increases has fueled public and political ire.
- Consumer advocates demand income proof or bank statements as the foundation for a limit increase rather than the controversial Schufa-G information, adding to the ongoing gambling-trends debate and the focus on responsible-gambling measures in Las Vegas, casino-culture, casino-games, lotteries, sports-betting, poker, and casino-personalities.
