GPWA Times Magazine - Issue 47 - July 2020

WALL OF SHAME For example, online slot machines would have a max stake of €1 per spin, as well as a minimum spin duration of five sec- onds. Also, there will be no autoplay and no jackpots. Slots with no jackpots? Well, that sounds like fun . . . For table games, states have the option to maintain a monopoly and if they decide to open the market, only one license for each land-based casino within its borders will be accepted. Sports betting, already legal and flourish- ing in the country, (growing by 21% in 2019), would continue, but there would be “restrictions” on in-play wagers, even though around 60% of the current activity by German bettors is on, you guessed it, in-play wagers. Additionally, when registering, play- ers would be required to set an individual monthly deposit limit across all opera- tors that may not exceed €1,000. The new regulations would also include an advertising blackout from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. and a total ban during live sports broadcasts. As off-putting as all of the above sounds, the kicker is how they address affiliates. No rev share deals. In fact, no deals what- soever based on customer losses, deposits or activities of any kind. Such broad lan- guage would seem to also restrict most CPA deals, as well. So, my fellow affiliate webmasters, good luck with the German market. You’re going to need it. The only good news to report here is that a lot still needs to happen before these new rules become a reality. At least 13 of Germa- ny’s 16 states would need to flash the green light before 31 March 2021. Even if that happens, it must be ratified by the European Commission, before going into effect in July 2021. From there, it would remain in effect until ( gulp! ) 31 December 2028. So even though nothing is official, we’re still going to nail the hind of this State Treaty on Gambling to ourWall of Shame for the crime of even considering these damning regulations. Germany is most certainly attractive to the iGaming industry for many reasons. It would be a “shame” (pun intended) if the new treaty prevented most of us from even bothering to enter the market. Welcome to the club! Germany has long been known for beer, breads, festivals and football. And now it can be remembered as the country with one of the worst projected gambling treaties ever written. We’ve heard rumblings about the attempt to regulate online gambling in Germany for some time now. InMay, Germany submitted the Fourth Edition of the State Treaty on Gambling to the European Commission and there was some rather alarming language if you’re in the iGaming affiliate business. Along with covering all of the basics of licensing internet casinos games, poker and sports betting there was also a myriad of restrictions. Germany’s State Treaty on Gambling Flag illustration by patrice6000/Shutterstock G P W A t i m e s . o r g 72