Boom in illegal online casinos worries neighboring countries because of black market
The illegal gambling market is a controversial topic in the industry. Legal gambling operators are concerned as the illegal online casino market continues to grow. Not only in Germany, but also in other EU countries such as Austria or Greece. There is an alarming rise in illegal online casinos in these countries, while some companies are ready to face the strict regulations of the authorities. In Germany, the Joint Gaming Authority of the States (GGL) is responsible for approving online casino providers and takes action against illegal online casinos.
The President of the Greek Gambling Authority, Dimitris Dzanatos, has also warned about the dangers of the illegal market and its spread. In both Greece and Germany, efforts to protect players are threatened by the black market. Increased monitoring and handling by the authorities is required. These developments show that the number of illegal online casinos is increasing in many regulated markets and poses a serious challenge.
Cross-country measures against illegal providers
The black market for gambling is currently a dominant issue. At the eighth Federal Congress on Gaming in Germany, there was extensive discussion about how the industry can defend itself against this trend. There was a desire for politicians to deal more closely with this issue. Media reports also point to problems in the Dutch gambling market, where the gambling regulator Kansspelautoriteit (KSA) has imposed a significant fine of €6,8 million on operator GoldWin Limited because players accessed the online casino despite not having a license . Similar developments can also be observed in the German gambling market.
It should also be noted that as long as the offerings in German online casinos cannot keep up with international providers, illegal online casinos will always be preferred. It is important to note that the word “illegal” only refers to availability outside of one’s jurisdiction. Therefore, this word is just as inappropriate as, for example, the 1 euro limit, the 5 second rule and the 1000 euro monthly limit.
In Switzerland and Liechtenstein, a cross-border player ban is being considered to improve player protection. It currently seems difficult to completely block foreign online casinos. Efforts are currently focused on international negotiations to improve the current situation. A possible measure to improve this situation would be better education about the long-term financial risks of using foreign ones Online casinos to sharpen and sensitize them to illegal online offers. It is very important that the Joint Gaming Authority of the states in Germany works closely with politicians to take action against illegal offers in order to strengthen the legal online casino market.
