Gambling on the Internet is subject to a new regulation in USA as a measure for player protection. The legislator has pursued various goals - in addition to higher tax revenue, player protection also includes. Which measures in the Gaming State Treaty serve to protect the players? What distinguishes these measures from regulation abroad? We look at all regulations in detail.
Player protection in the German Gambling State Treaty
The current state of gambling has been in effect since July 1st, 2021. The newly regulated German gaming industry is currently picking up speed - the first providers have been licensed by the authorities. If you want to receive a German license, you have to meet various requirements. The requirements include consistent implementation of the player protection measures.
These measures begin at the opening of the account and, for example, have a particularly quick verification. The legislator also requires narrowly limited deposit and operational limits as well as a slowed gameplay. Certain games and even demo versions are also prohibited.
Verification after 72 hours at the latest
The player protection in USA begins at the opening of the account. If you open a game account at a German online casino, you have to completely verify it after 72 hours at the latest. The identity of the player is checked as part of the verification.
The absolute maximum is 72 hours. Accordingly, it is possible to open an account before completing the complete verification - but only for a period of 72 hours from registration and up to a deposit limit of EUR 100.
In other words, if you pay more than 100 EUR, you have to verify the game account immediately, otherwise online casinos are obliged to block the account until the verification is completed. If you pay a maximum of EUR 100, you can play for 72 hours - after that, the account will also be blocked until the verification is completed.
However, the verification is more uncomplicated than many players feared in the run -up to the new regulation. In particular, it is not absolutely necessary to make a video call with a human employee of verification service providers.
The requirement for verification is less in the gambling area than in the financial sector, so that fully automatic procedures are possible. This also means that players can make verification 24/7 and there are no annoying queues.
Monthly deposit limit of a maximum of EUR 1,000
Player protection also includes a monthly deposit limit. When opening the account, all players must set an individual deposit limit. With § 6c of the Gaming State Treaty, the legislator has determined that this deposit limit must not exceed EUR 1,000 a month. Mind you: This limit sees itself as a cross -provider for all German online casinos.
An example: A player opens a game account at Casino X on August 1st and pays 700 EUR. On August 15, the same player opens a game account at Casino Y. There he would like to deposit EUR 400. In total, the deposits of the two casinos would reach EUR 1,100. The Casino Y must therefore reject the deposit or limit it to a maximum of EUR 300.
The supervisory authorities monitor compliance with the deposit limit. The responsible authority (it is currently the joint gambling authority of the federal states, GGL) operates a central file: the limit file. In the limit file, the height and date of all made deposits are noted. This measure is intended to serve the player protection.
1 EUR set of application per game round
If regulatory authorities want to strengthen player protection, this often happens with the aim of limiting the overall missions. The operational limit of EUR 1 per game round must also be understood. In Section 22 (7), the legislature determines that the assignment must not exceed one euro per game - whereby a game with a slot machine refers to a spin.
5-second rule
The 1 EUR operating limit can also be seen in the context of the 5-second rule, which is defined in Section 22a (6) as a player protection measure. Accordingly, a game round must take at least 5 seconds on average. A game begins with the release of the explanation of the player and ends with the display of the result.
If a spin takes at least 5 seconds and can be used per round a maximum of EUR 1, the theoretical maximum insert amounts to EUR 12 per minute. However, very few players are likely to be able to implement this because it takes to display the result for the next spin. According to our estimates, the maximum of 5-8 EUR per minute is possible.
Here the player protection clearly shoots a little over the destination and causes a great sensation in the player community.
Autoplay prohibition
The EUR 1 EUR and 5 seconds rule is combined with a ban on the autoplay function. Players can use the autoplay function to have the machine turned independently. The legislator prohibits this in Section 22a (4.
This declaration may only be submitted after the end of the previous game. Citation: "In particular, program processes are inadmissible that make another game start after the previous game and explain explanations of a player to take part in several games in a row.“
5 minutes break and reality check every 60 minutes
The Gaming State Treaty requires various information obligations from online casinos. This includes a reality check every 60 minutes. In the course of the player protection, the player is informed about the previous course of the game. Only after the provision and knowledge of the reality check (knowledge must be confirmed by the player) can the game be resumed.
Section 22a (9) regulates that the resumption of the game may only be made possible 5 minutes after confirmation of the knowledge. This means in plain language: there is a forced break every 60 minutes. In practice, at least 5-6 minutes are likely to pass before the game can be resumed.
In USA licensed online casinos are also subject to extensive information obligations. These are regulated in § 6d of the State Treaty. To display at any time are therefore in the account for the last twelve months:
- Stand of the credit on the game account
- Game history as a whole
- Game history per game form
- Deposits and withdrawals
- Limits and changes to limits (limits history)
- Other transactions
In addition, online casinos have to inform players about the missions, profits and losses of the previous 30 days. In practice, short reality checks appear after every login. The state contract demands this information "After every identification and authentication (...) and before the start of a game if more than 24 hours have passed since the last information ”. A player protection measure that is quite acceptable.
Jackpotverbot
A jackpot ban is also one of the guidelines of German regulation. Section 22 (8) determines: “Operations, profits or parts of missions or profits must not be accumulated for the purpose of creating profits for future games (jackpot ban). ”This too is justified with the player protection.
This means that popular games such as progressive jackpots and other games with irregularly not defined profit potential are not permitted before the start of a game.
However, additional offers remain unaffected that do not finance or share casinos from operations or profits. For some German online casinos there is a weekly jackpot that is distributed through the drawing of a lucky number. Since no missions are made here beforehand, these variants are approved.
Prohibition of cryptocurrencies
In many international casinos, cryptocurrencies are becoming increasingly popular. However, the German legislature does not want to allow Bitcoin and Co. Virtual currencies are excluded in several places in the Gaming State Treaty. This should also serve the player protection.
On the one hand, Section 22a (5) stipulates that operations and profits may only take place in euros and cent. It is also expressly stipulated that the conversion of money amounts into other currencies, points or other units is inadmissible.
§ 6b also stipulates that credit in the game account can be shown at any time in euros and cent. This rules out that game accounts are managed in Bitcoin, Ethereum or other cryptocurrencies.
The account management in Bitcoin and Co. is therefore prohibited as well as missions in cryptocurrencies. What about deposits? Would it be theoretically permissible that a German online casino accepts deposits using Bitcoin and then credited to the game account in euros?
This is probably opposed to Section 6b (4) of the State Treaty. The legislator stipulates that payments may only be made from a payment account within the meaning of the payment services law. This account must be in the name of the player. Occupations and withdrawals via anonymous means of payment are "not permitted in long-distance sales".
Ultimately, this means that deposits with cryptocurrency are generally possible if a fully regulated payment service is used, which reveals the identity of the player and at the same time converted the paid cryptocurrency into euros.
In principle, the use of Bitcoin and Co. in German online casinos would be possible via these detours - but ultimately worthless. Players could not deposit anonymously and do not make any missions with cryptocurrencies. Only higher costs for the conversion into euros would occur ...
No demo slots without a game account
Many players use demo versions of slot machines to familiarize themselves with the atmosphere, the prize symbols etc. - or just to sell time without using real money.
§ 6j of the state contract regulates how to deal with the popular demo slots. Unlike international casinos, there are considerable hurdles here. Online casinos with German license are only allowed to offer demo slots players for whom a game account was set up. So it is not possible to simply call up the website of a casino and start the desired slot in the demo mode. This is justified with the player protection and the protection of minors.
There is another requirement: offers a German online casino demo slots, the demo must be realistically designed. The demo must have the real slot with the exception "of the unpaid fee and the lack of money profit“Correct overall. According to the state contract, this applies "especially with regard to the probability of winning and the payout rate“.
Prohibition of parallel game
For reasons of player protection, the legislature does not want players to play more than one game at once. That is why it is prohibited online casinos in accordance with Section 22a (10) to have several slots played in parallel. This also explicitly applies if it is one and the same slot. As long as a slot is running, it is not possible to start another game.
Resourceful players could have the idea of simply opening a second browser window, logging into another online casino and playing there in parallel - if necessary on a second screen. However, the legislator cannot be tricked that easy. § 6h the "Prevention parallel game with several providers on the Internet“.
Here again the gambling supervisory authority comes into play. In addition to the limit file, this also operates a so -called active file. Whenever a player plays at any German online casino, he is noted as active in this file.
With the active feature, it is not possible to start the game with a second provider. Only when the first provider ends the activation can the second casino take the game. Here, too, there is a five -minute period: If a casino reports that an actively switched player is no longer active, the corresponding note in the file will only be removed after five minutes.
Panic button and 24-hour lock
Every German online casino has to install a so -called panic button for player protection. This is a button that is displayed. Anyone who clicks on it is closed - without further demand - for 24 hours. The lock applies to all German online casinos.
What the legislator intends with the panic button is unclear - after all, every player can also end the game through a simple logout, closing the browser window etc.
Anyone who accidentally operates the panic button nevertheless ends irrevocably for 24 hours. A withdrawal of the explanation submitted in this way is not provided.
If you operate the panic button, you will not be entered in the central blocking file.
OASIS Sperrdatei
The central player lock file Oasis is another essential aspect of player protection in Germany.
Anyone who is entered in Oasis cannot take part in gambling - at least not in German online casinos. There are two ways to be entered at Oasis: self -locked and external locks. All German online casinos are connected to the system and check a possible entry before the game and before the account is opened.
Locks can be placed at online casinos and at the regional council (RP) Darmstadt. Players apply for a self -lock. In contrast, external barriers are requested by a third party for a player. Both variants serve to the player protection.
Foreign locks are possible, for example, by relatives or life partners. The prerequisite is that the person to be blocked gambling addiction Or is over -indebted, financial obligations do not meet or risk disproportionately high game operations. The proportionality results from the person's income or assets.
External barriers always last at least one year. On the other hand, self -barriers are available as an indefinite and temporary self -barrier. Temporary self -barriers last at least three months. For example, if you apply for a lock for two months, you will automatically be blocked for three months. Unlimited self -barriers last at least one year.
Locks do not end automatically, but only at the request of the player. This measure also serves the player protection. This application can be submitted to permanent (self-or external barriers) at the earliest after the end of a year. In the case of temporary self -barriers, the application is possible after the term. Self -barriers are lifted a month after receipt of the application, external barriers a month later.
If the application is made too early, there cannot be unlocked: applications made too early are considered ineffective. The application for unlocking is only to be submitted to the RP Darmstadt. Attention: In the case of third -party locks, the party that has caused the blocking is also informed. The person may then apply for a new block.
Criticism of German regulation
The German legislature wanted to keep the player protection high. This becomes clear when the domestic regulations are compared to those abroad. Monthly deposit limit, 1 EUR Set -up limit, 5 seconds rule, autoplay prohibition, no floating account opening, prohibition of parallel games and all the other measures are not available abroad or not to the extent.
The German regulatory requirements for online casinos are therefore much sharper than with foreign competition.
On the one hand, this is greeted by players (and often not yet sufficiently classified). On the other hand, criticism also grows. Critics complain that the legislator has lost sight of the actual goal of the new state contract. The goal was: The largest possible part of the international gambling on the Internet is to be channeled in domestic lanes.
However, due to the strict regulation, domestic providers are less attractive to players than foreign casinos. There, players can individually determine missions and deposits, deposit with Bitcoin and enjoy other "freedoms".
In addition, many of the gameplay are eliminating restrictions such as the five -minute waiting time every 60 minutes. Also abroad also gives the opportunity to set up limits, reality checks, etc. to ensure a certain level of player protection. However, this type of player protection is not determined.
The German providers are also falling behind the player protection. This applies, for example, to taxation. The German legislator has set an operational tax of 5.3 % for slots and online poker - instead of taxing gross games for gross games as usual.
The frequently criticized structure of the tax means that German online casinos can offer less attractive distribution rates for foreign competitors. A competitive complaint at the EU Commission, which was initiated by the EGBA (European Gaming & Betting Association) industry association), runs against the tax burden.
Conclusion
The player protection is held up in the Gaming State Treaty. There are numerous mandatory measures that have to do online casinos to protect players. However, many of these measures also have a restrictive and monitoring effect - for example, the transducing provider of deposit limit or the prohibition of parallel game.
Players can be sure that they are better protected from themselves in USA than in any other country. It remains to be seen whether this leads to problematic players to turn to German providers or whether the strict regulations are not more favorable with an international license.
Last change on August 15, 2022 Wolfgang – Lucky –
