Gambling providers must comply with the circular resolution
The new State Treaty on Gambling, which will come into force in July 2021, regulates the rules that lead to obtaining a license. Every online gambler should already be aware of these rules. Because compliance with these rules is not expected from next year, but already now.
Circular resolution: from October 15, 2021, the rules must be complied with
Although the new State Treaty on Gambling will not apply until the middle of next year, online gambling providers must already comply with the requirements now. The deadline for this was 15.10.2021. According to the circulation decision, all online casinos will be classified as unreliable if they do not meet the requirements now. Such a classification will result in no license being issued next year.
The good news in this context is that previous violations that would have led to unreliability may not be assessed. Definitely unreliable is only the provider who does not comply with the changes and rules mentioned in the new State Treaty on Gambling. This means in detail: every provider must separate casino games from slot machines. Most table games - thus the most popular casino games - may not be offered to players. As a result, all gambling providers who want to obtain a license next year will have to completely revise their site. Some of the providers have already created two sites and offer only slot machines.
Online poker is allowed - further restrictions apply
However, it does not run so that slot machines may be offered without restriction. Thus, the already known betting limit of 1000 euros applies. Less known might be the panic button, with which a player can lock himself for 24 hours. Each round on a virtual slot machine must last five seconds and the round may not cost more than one euro.
Parallel play is also prohibited, i.e. playing on two or even more slots at the same time is not allowed. And anyone who plays continuously for at least one hour must undergo a reality check. This is probably to prevent automatic games from being offered. Because these are now also prohibited and each new round must be confirmed manually by the player. Similar rules have been in place for several years in Indian casinos online.
Of course, all these regulations also apply to online poker, which may be offered. Roulette, blackjack, and other popular table games are completely prohibited.
Online providers must expect controls
A circulation decision would have no sense if this would not be controlled. This is exactly what has now been published: the focus is on online casinos that have already violated certain rules and regulations in the past. Likewise, those who are feared not to abide by the rules in the future will be controlled.
Interestingly, complying with the new rules does not result in a 100 percent license. This information was specifically included in the circulating resolution. It just seems that the chances of getting a license increase if the rules are implemented now. However, there is no legal right to receive a license next year.
However, the circulation decision may cause gambling providers to lose a license if they already have such a license for offering. These providers could rely on the fact that during the transition period, the conduct of games of chance will be tolerated. At least that was the official message. From this point of view, the circulation decision seemed more than short-term. To implement the new regulations, which are actually only valid from July 2021, the providers had just under three weeks. Those who either learned about the circular resolution too late or were unable to change their offer quickly enough could now be left out in the cold.
A circular decision may not apply to European providers
It is still questionable how those providers have a license from a European country. Basically, these have the right to offer casino games: European law sees the limitation of offers as a violation of competition. Exactly, for this reason, the federal states have not been able to take any action against the online casinos so far.
Thus, it is still unclear whether online casinos with a license from Malta, for example, have to comply with the circulation decision at all. Of course, the answer is significantly related to whether the provider wants to obtain a license next year.
For lovers of roulette, baccarat, and other table games, the next few months will remain exciting. It is possible that the excitement will vanish into thin air if the State Treaty on Gaming is amended or does not come into force at all.
