In Schleswig-Holstein, the authority allows independent online casino platforms to offer games like blackjack, roulette, and baccarat.
Schleswig-Holstein State's Interior Ministry Unveils Online Casino License Recipients
The Interior Ministry of Schleswig-Holstein made an announcement yesterday, disclosing that it would be authorizing four private gambling corporations to operate online casinos within Schleswig-Holstein. This move reaffirms Schleswig-Holstein's leading role in the gambling sector, mirroring the German gambling agreement.
The following companies have been granted licenses to operate online casino games:
- BluBet Operations
- Cashpoint
- Skill On Net
- Tipico
These companies are already licensed gambling providers in Germany, providing their services on various websites. For instance, Skill On Net manages the portal DrückGlück, while BluBet Operations caters to the German market through the site novoline.de.
Now, these companies will compete directly with Spielbank SH GmbH, which runs four physical casinos in Flensburg, Kiel, Lübeck, and Schenefeld. Previously, games like blackjack or roulette were exclusive to brick-and-mortar outlets.
Fun Fact: Schleswig-Holstein hasn't always followed the crowd in the gambling industry. In 2012, before the German gambling agreement was enacted, Schleswig-Holstein was the only state to legally permit online gambling.
Could Illegal Gambling be Spurred by Unfulfilled Demand?
The percentage of Germany's black market for online gambling varies amongst experts. While the Joint Gaming Authority of the States (GGL) suggests that the transition to the legal market is largely successful, researchers at Leipzig University assert that the black market share is approximately 50%.
Sabine Sütterlin-Wack, Schleswig-Holstein's Interior Minister, believes that the absence of legal online casino game options might contribute to the black market:
By providing an appealing online platform, we aim to discourage players from considering illegal offers when they desire to play casino games online, thereby boosting legal gambling – Sabine Sütterlin-Wack, Interior Minister of Schleswig-Holstein, schleswig-holstein.de
Experts like DOCV Managing Director Julia Lensing have previously emphasized the need for regulating classic table games like Baccarat, Blackjack, or Roulette. The current regulations might be pushing players towards unregulated areas, like crypto casinos.
Is Schleswig-Holstein Taking a Unique Path within the German Gambling Agreement?
Schleswig-Holstein's approach to issuing online casino licenses breaks new ground nationally. While Bavaria has started offering classic table games online through its state-owned Spielbanken Bayern, the issuance of such licenses to private firms is unprecedented.
It is likely that the licensed gambling firms will have to monitor the locations of their users. Since the license is given by Schleswig-Holstein, it will presumably only be applicable to residents of Schleswig-Holstein. Just like the online offering of Spielbanken Bayern, the new online casinos will be regulated based on user location.
However, it remains uncertain whether non-residents temporarily in Schleswig-Holstein will also be permitted to partake in the virtual casinos. The initiative of the federal state might stimulate the emergence of a new grey market in the upcoming months.
The announcement by Schleswig-Holstein's Interior Ministry of approved online casino operators has sparked interest in the news, with experts analyzing its potential impact on illegal gambling. Sabine Sütterlin-Wack, the Interior Minister, asserts that providing legal online casino platforms will discourage players from turning to illegal offers.
With the inclusion of companies like BluBet Operations and Skill On Net in the licensed online casinos, Schleswig-Holstein's move could significantly impact the black market share in online gambling.
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