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Recreational fun in the gray zone

Sports betting on the Internet is popular. Many Germans bet online on the outcome of soccer matches and other results. But from a legal point of view, this is problematic, because the legality of gambling on the web is disputed.

However, bettors are not threatened with trouble for the time being. "If the betting offer is not authorized, participants are in principle liable to prosecution," says Martin Jaschinski, lawyer and gambling law expert. In Germany, the "State Treaty on Gambling" has banned all sports betting on the Internet since the beginning of year - because of the search potential seen by experts.

Under European law, this is controversial. That's why private bookmakers are resisting it - and for the time being can continue to be reached on the barely controllable net. German customers have not had to face any consequences so far.

"In practice, action is only taken against the providers and not against the customers," emphasizes to the https://cricket360.bet/cricket-betting-sites/ Martin Jaschinski.

Only the state operator Oddset has discontinued its online sports betting service.

"The website continues to serve as a source of information for customers, but the betting itself is only possible in the acceptance offices," explains Thomas Spöring, spokesman for Lotto-Gesellschaft Bayern, which is the lead operator of Oddset.

Old GDR license

Beyond that, there is basically no sign of the ban. Around half a million Germans bet online on sporting events, according to a Forsa study published in June for the IT association Bitkom. Soccer is the predominant topic. The biggest private Internet bookmakers include bwin, Sportwetten Gera, digibet and Interwetten. They claim to be able to continue their online business on the basis of licenses that were issued back in GDR times.

However, it is unclear exactly where these are valid. This is because there are contradictory court rulings on the matter. Due to a legal requirement, bwin provides its Internet advertising banners with the note that "betting is currently only possible in the former GDR". But that refers to the participant's location, which is practically impossible to verify, according to a spokesperson for the company.

State lottery companies and the private operators have long been fighting over who is allowed to offer sports betting in Germany - basically a sham battle. That's because many online bookmakers operate from other European countries or overseas and are almost impossible to regulate.

Other countries less restrictive

In other countries, sports betting is sometimes handled much less restrictively, says Andreas Ullmann from the consultancy Sport Markt in Cologne. At least no insurmountable technical hurdle prevents interested parties from betting with international Internet bookmakers.

Expert Jaschinski advises consumers who do not want to do without sports betting on the net to stick to the established bookmakers. "They live off their good reputation, and business-damaging behavior is less likely." As in any industry, it cannot be ruled out that there are black sheep who cheat their customers out of profits. It is difficult to enforce legal claims against providers based in foreign tax havens.