Saarland media regulator bans two online casino operators over illegal advertising
German state authorities file banning orders against two “market-strong” operators licensed in Schleswig-Holstein
Authorities from the German state of Saarland have banned two “market-strong” online casino providers from advertising illegally in the state.
The Landesmedienansatalt Saarland (LMS), which regulates advertising, issued the prohibition orders against the two unnamed firms, which it claims have licences in the neighbouring state of Schleswig-Holstein after regulators found both companies had been advertising online.
Online casino gambling is currently illegal in the state of Saarland under the German Interstate Treaty On Gambling (IST), with advertising of online casino games in the state also prohibited.
However, online casino gambling is legal and licensed in Schleswig-Holstein under its own regulatory regime, which exists under certain guarantees.
One of these guarantees requires all Schleswig-Holstein online casino licensees to limit online casino advertising to within state borders and not nationally.
However, regulators from the LMS have claimed that this limitation is not being observed by many online casino providers licensed by the state.
“TV advertising for gaming options at these online casinos takes place in a far too large number of private TV programmes – and that even at times of day when children and adolescents are particularly vulnerable,” LMS said.
LMS director Ruth Meyer questioned the role of Schleswig-Holstein authorities in allowing online casino ads to be seen in other German states.
“The LMS has therefore decided to take steps so that the goal of combating gambling addiction, particularly in Covid-19 times, is not endangered through Schleswig-Holstein’s solo efforts under the current State Treaty on Gaming,” Meyer added.
Online casino gaming is set to be legalised in all 16 German states under the new amended IST on gambling, which comes into force in July 2021.