A German court has ordered the nationwide sports betting licensing process to be suspended.

The Darmstadt Administrative Court, which ordered the process suspended until further notice, was responding to claims made by Austrian betting operator Vierklee that the licensing procedure was flawed – specifically that it was not transparent and non-discriminatory.

The Austrian operator making the claim is not a member of the German Sports Betting Association (DSWV).

Commenting on the court’s decision, President of DSWV, Mathias Dahms, expressed frustration at the new delay, saying

“The decision of the court is a big blow to our members. Even though we were promised concessions by the legislator back in 2012, an early approval, which should have been made possible by the State Treaty on Gaming, which has been in effect since the beginning of the year, is now once again in the stars.

“Sports betting providers in Germany are once again denied access to a regulated market and thus legal certainty. The applicants have once again invested a lot of effort and energy into the process and prepared for the regulated market.”

AYO.NEWS says:

The process of German regulation is turning into something of a quagmire for German betting operators. In addition to this latest delay, the draft regulations that were approved by representatives of Germany’s sixteen states last month are also worrying many. From €1 stake limits for online slots and restrictive live betting rules, to requirements stating customers must hold separate accounts for each vertical and a complete ban on third-party affiliate marketing, the rules could make business extremely difficult for operators.

AYO.NEWS says features the opinion of the author and does not necessarily reflect the views of Pentagon Digital Limited.

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