Kindred and Playtech BGT join the German Sports Betting Association
Operators want to play key role in ongoing German regulation process
Kindred Group and Playtech BGT Sports have joined the German Sports Betting Association (DSWV) to play a greater role in pushing regulation of the German gambling market.
The German Sports Betting Association (DSWV) was founded in 2014 by the leading German and European sports betting providers in Berlin. Its members represent about 90% of the total German sports betting market with all member companies having licences in EU member states.
Anne-Jaap Snijders, general manager for DACH at Kindred said the firm wants “to support the sustainable development and regulation of the German gambling market. Through licenses in twelve different markets Kindred has a wealth of experience that we would like to share with the German decision-makers via the DSWV.
“Kindred’s goal is to ensure a secure, reliable and fair environment in all gambling markets we operate in.”
Other prominent members of the DSWV include Ladbrokes, bwin, Sky Bet, bet365, Paddy Power Betfair and William Hill. Since 2012, DSWV members have paid over €1bn in sports betting taxes in Germany. Most members are also active as sponsors in German professional sports.
Regulation of the egaming market in Germany has been at an impasse since an amendment treaty to the existing Interstate Gambling Treaty (2012) failed to pass into law earlier this year, due to a failure to gain approval in all sixteen German states.
Dr. Peter Reinhardt, managing director of Playtech BGT’s German business believes that sports betting regulation is overdue saying: “We welcome the fact that the Federal Republic has made the fundamental decision to open the sports betting market. However, we also have to say that it still hangs in the implementation of this decision considerably.”
Reinhardt added: “This applies in particular to market-driven regulation, the granting of authorisations for reputable providers and the effective exclusion of dubious providers from the market. We hope that Playtech BGT Sports, with its international regulatory experience, can help pave the way for regulation that balances the interests of consumers, providers and the state alike.”