Administrative Court Confirms TV “Competitions” were Illegal Games of Chance

Halle (Saale) Germany (April 13, 2023) — At the end of March, the GGL achieved success in the prohibition proceedings against the illegal gambling offer on a website of a large private television broadcaster.

The Munich Administrative Court confirmed that the offers described as “competitions” were illegal public games of chance on the Internet. Participation was possible for a fee, the chances of winning depended on chance.

Even if the respective gambling stakes on the provider’s website were only small amounts of less than 50 cents, the Munich Administrative Court confirmed that the games offered are to be classified as gambling for which there is no state license. The court pointed out that the administrative law concept of gambling in the State Treaty on Gambling does not provide for a significant threshold for stakes in order to take into account the goal of preventive averting danger. The prohibition order was thus confirmed as lawful.

In the meantime, the provider has removed the illegal gambling offer from the corresponding website and changed the offer in accordance with the law.

Board Member Benjamin Schwanke: “GGL’s approach is having an effect. With the judicial confirmation of the ban, a further step in the fight against illegal gambling has been taken. Paid games designated as “raffles” are to be classified as games of chance if the chance of winning depends on chance.”

Board colleague Ronald Benter adds: “We assume that this judgment will have a role model effect and that other providers will take their illegal offers off the market at the request of the GGL.”

SOURCE: Joint Gaming Authority of the States.