March 4, 2024

Belgium Prohibits Bonuses and Implements Stricter Regulations

Belgium Implements Sweeping Changes: Bonus Ban and Tightened Regulations As the landscape of gambling regulations undergoes a seismic shift, Belgium stands at the forefront of implementing stringent measures to combat problem gambling and promote responsible gaming practices. With a suite of new regulations slated to take effect from September 1, the Belgian gambling industry braces […]

February 15, 2024

Germany’s Struggle Against the Rising Tide of Black Market Betting

The Tipping Point in Germany’s Gambling Landscape In 2023, Germany’s sports betting sector faced a pivotal challenge. The German Sports Betting Association (DSWV) raised the alarm over the burgeoning black market, which now captures about 50% of all online gambling activity in the country. This surge comes at the cost of licensed operators, who witnessed […]

February 12, 2024

Albania Partially Lifts Sports Betting Ban to Combat Black Market Surge

A Strategic Pivot in Albania’s Gambling Policy In a significant shift from its stringent stance on gambling, the Albanian parliament has taken decisive action to partially lift the nation’s sports betting ban, instituted in January 2019. This move, primarily targeting online sports betting, aims to clamp down on the burgeoning black market, which has flourished […]

December 11, 2023

GGL Stands by Data Collection Methods Amid Debate Over Germany’s Unlicensed Gambling Market Size

The Glücksspielbehörde (GGL), Germany’s newly established federal gambling regulator, has stepped forward to assert the validity of its data collection methods in estimating the size of the unlicensed gambling market. This response addresses recent concerns raised by trade bodies DSWV and DOCV, who suggested that a significant portion of gambling in Germany occurs within the […]

November 21, 2023

German Study Highlights High Usage of Unlicensed Gambling Sites Despite Regulation

German Online Gambling: Urgent Reforms Needed as Study Shows High Black Market Usage A recent study by the University of Leipzig has raised alarms about the state of online gambling in Germany, revealing that nearly half of all online gambling activity still occurs on unlicensed sites. Commissioned by the German Online Casino Association (DOCV) and […]

October 12, 2023

Germany’s Surge in Illegal Gambling: An In-depth Examination of an Escalating Crisis

Germany, once lauded for its precise regulations, finds itself under an unprecedented threat from an expanding black market in the gambling sector. The recent Behörden Spiegel’s Bundeskonferenz zum Glücksspielwesen shed light on this alarming reality, causing a wave of concern throughout the nation. Wes Himes, representing the Betting and Gaming Council (BGC), passionately argued that […]