Advertisement for lottery - A regulatory body can prohibit streamers abroad from illegally advertising
The Joint Gambling Authority of the Federal States (GGL) can prohibit advertising for illegal online gambling, even if it is directed at the German market from abroad. The Administrative Court of Sachsen-Anhalt followed this legal viewpoint of the Authority based in Halle (Saale), as the Authority announced.
The proceedings began with an injunction issued by the Authority against a German streamer residing abroad. This individual was alleged to have advertised unlawful public gambling. He had participated in virtual slot machine games, filmed himself doing so, and published the recordings. Since the content of the videos was created in the German language and targeted at the German-speaking market, the Gambling Authority considered itself competent.
Ronald Benter, the Chairman of the Gambling Authority, welcomed the court's decision. The decision sends a strong signal. The GGL will take even stronger action against streamers residing abroad in the future. Streaming videos are a leading advertising form for the target group of minors.
At the end of the year, there were 143 license holders listed at the Gambling Authority who were permitted to offer legal gambling on the internet. The Authority officially began its service at the beginning of 2023. It controls and regulates the market on a cross-state basis.
- Despite being based in Saxony-Anhalt, the Joint Gambling Authority of the Federal States (GGL) can also ban foreign advertising for illegal online gambling targeting the German market.
- The decision made by the Administrative Court of Sachsen-Anhalt supported the Authority's stance on stopping online gambling advertising from abroad, particularly in the case of a foreign streamer promoting unlawful public gambling.
- In response to the court's ruling, the Chairman of the GGL, Ronald Benter, expressed optimism, indicating that the Authority plans to intensify its actions against foreign streamers who use streaming videos to advertise illegal gambling to German minors.
- Following the court decision and strengthened enforcement policies, the GGL has seen a growth in licensed online gambling providers; in 2022, there were 143 license holders operating under the Authority's oversight, enforcing regulations and ensuring a lawful internet gambling market in Germany.
