La German Sports Betting Association (DSWV) analyzed the development of the German sports betting market for 2023 in its annual press conference. The main themes were taxation, the black market and player protection.
Decline in tax revenue:
In 2023, legal sports betting providers in Germany recorded a share of 7,72 billion euros, a decrease of 5,4% compared to the previous year.
This development illustrates the challenges facing the legal market. One of the important reasons for the decline is the migration of many players to illegal offers. For example, since the State Treaty on Gambling came into force in 2021, regulated providers have been unable to keep up with large black market betting offers due to a limited betting program . The association therefore calls for attractive framework conditions for regulated providers so that they remain competitive.
The fight against the black market:
Despite regulation, the black market has a significant market share in Germany. Studies show that around half of the time spent by German online gambling users is spent on illegal sites. This alarming development requires urgent action by the Federal States Joint Gambling Authority (GGL). The DSWV therefore calls for a reorientation of the current regulatory policy in order to strengthen the legal market and curb the black market.
Player Protection Promotion:
Many players will open betting accounts during the European Football Championship. It is therefore all the more important that gamblers are directed towards the legal market. Advertising helps make the brands of legal providers stand out from illegal offerings on the black market. Only companies authorized by the GGL protect players. In the debate on sports betting advertising, the DSWV is therefore expressly against the advertising ban.
The members of the DSWV are committed to their social responsibility and, together with other associations, finance the helpline of the Federal Center for Health Education (BZgA). However, in order to effectively prevent problem gambling, we need valid scientific findings. It would be urgently necessary for the GGL or the Federal Ministry of Health to promote a nationwide study on the problem of gambling addiction in the form of a regular survey. This would mean that the same representative group would be tested on their gaming behavior and that substantiated results could be obtained over time.
