Gambling sector faces criticism, anticipation, and legal confusion during the 2024 European Championships sports betting scene
Many enthusiasts of football and sports betting bets can't contain their excitement for the 2024 European Football Championship in Germany, set to commence on June 14. Numerous betting companies worldwide are eager to make profits during this event. Yet, the deals from bookmakers aren't just stirring anticipation. Critics have stepped forward, as the legal status of sports betting is undergoing intense international debate.
The proposed ban on sports betting advertising during the 2024 EM in Germany by Burkhard Blienert, the federal government's addiction coordinator, was regarded as unrealistic back in 2022. With Betano, an active and licensed bookmaker in Germany, emerging as one of the main sponsors of the EM, such efforts were apparently squashed.
An open letter to the ministers of the states, advocating for a gradual abolition of sports betting advertising, didn't seem to bring about any changes to the existing laws in Germany.
Recently on ZDF Magazin Royale, Jan Böhmermann criticized various sports betting providers in connection to the upcoming 2024 EM in Germany. He pointed to bookmakers such as Tipico and Betano, which were challenged in court by players seeking damages in Germany.
In Germany, sports betting is regulated through the State Treaty on Gaming, but past operations still face controversy in terms of their legality. Consequently, the European Court of Justice is set to make a landmark decision on whether sports betting in Germany was previously illegal, and whether players have a right to recover their losses.
German courts have presented mixed verdicts on the issue. The legal uncertainty surrounds other parts of Europe as well. Given the high share of the black market in sports betting across borders, the European market is heavily influenced by a restrictive issuance of licenses, resulting in fair competition being obstructed. In contrast to Germany, where several providers hold the Joint Gaming Authority of the States (GGL) whitelist, there are only two licensed providers in Switzerland.
Additionally, sports betting providers with licenses from small EU member states or offshore tax havens are prevalent throughout Europe, making it hard for beginners to determine if they're dealing with legal or illegal providers. Consequently, voices calling for a complete advertising ban have also emerged, as this would deprive legal providers of their marketing opportunities.
Some addiction experts, including Monika Lierzer, the head of the gambling addiction center in Styria, Austria, believe that sports betting might pose a risk due to players overestimating their knowledge. They argue that a complex mathematical understanding is required to analyze the odds offered by bookmakers, and the house edge of sports betting providers still exists, which is usually even higher than in online casinos due to information asymmetries.
Faster reclassifying sports betting in Austria as games of chance instead of games of skill has been suggested by Lierzer and over 200 other advocates, in hopes that it would help minimize potential gambling addiction.
Lastly, the British Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) has recently called for moderate gambling advertising during Euro 2024. While there are existing advertising restrictions to adhere to, excessively restricting advertisement could jeopardize sports funding, experts have warned in the Bundestag. Instead, they advocate for regulating messages and communication channels. It remains to be seen whether sports betting-focused debate will continue throughout Euro 2024, or if the tournament kicks off on June 14, 2024, the discussion will shift towards the sporting aspects.
The online casinos in Germany, such as Betano, are actively participating in the sponsorship of the 2024 European Football Championship. Despite criticisms and debates surrounding the legal status of sports betting in Germany, several providers hold licenses and operate within the country's regulatory framework.
Read also:
- Leverkusen claims victory in the cup, securing a double triumph.
- Alonso achieves a double victory after consuming a German brew.
- Does the SVolt factory in Saarland face stability issues?
- Furor surrounding Sylt scandal footage