RP Darmstadt awards betting licences to Interwetten and Bet3000

The trio of new licences take the total number handed out since 9 October to 18. Bet-at-home announced on Monday (2 November) that it had been approved to offer online wagering to German customers.  

Interwetten has also been handed an online-only licence, while Bet3000, via its IBA Entertainment holding company, has secured approval for both online and retail betting.

Last month, the first wave of licences – awarded after a legal challenge from Austria’s Vierklee that had halted the process since April was withdrawn – saw 15 operators licensed. 

That included four licences for GVC Holdings, as well as approvals for local giants Gauselmann Group and Tipico, and Austria’s Novomatic. 

The issuing of the sports betting licences come as Germany prepares to implement a new regulatory framework, opening up the market to online slots and poker for the first time. 

These products, however, have been permitted in the market under a transition period that began on 15 October, for operators that were compliant with the player protection measures set out in the upcoming Glücksspielneuregulierungstaatsvertrag (GlüNeuRStV). 

Operators are also required to implement a €1 per spin slot stake cap, and a minimum five second spin speed, by 15 December. 

The GlüNeuRStV took a step towards implementation this week, after it was ratified by the Minister-Presidents of Germany’s 16 states at their annual meeting. It must now go through 13 of the 16 state legislatures if it is to come into force as planned from 1 July next year.