Recent investigations by ARD uncover questionable practices in the gambling industry.
A controversial case is currently occupying the German gambling industry: As recent investigations by Investigate Europe, Monitor, and Zeit Online reveal, the German federal states have entered into a previously secret agreement with online gambling providers that undermines legal player protections. This revelation raises serious questions about the effectiveness of existing protective measures.
The €1,000 limit and how it is circumvented
According to the Interstate Treaty on Gambling, players are limited to a maximum monthly deposit of €1,000 across all providers at online casinos and betting sites. This regulation aims to prevent gambling addiction and avoid financial ruin. For higher deposits, providers must verify the “financial capacity” of their customers, for example, by providing proof of income or bank statements.
The now-revealed agreement shows, however, that the state interior ministers effectively nullified this important protective measure in November 2022. In a court settlement with sports betting providers, it was stipulated that a so-called “Schufa-G inquiry” would suffice as proof of assets – even though this does not capture the actual income or assets of the gamblers.
Court ruling: A Schufa credit check is not sufficient
However, the Lüneburg Regional Court has already confirmed in a landmark ruling that a SCHUFA credit check is not sufficient for increasing a credit limit. The ruling states:
“The defendant cannot claim that the SCHUFA inquiry fulfilled the legal requirements for self-limitation. The defendant tolerated the limit being exceeded for months without verifying the plaintiff’s financial capacity. Furthermore, the SCHUFA inquiry does not meet the requirements for demonstrating financial capacity in a suitable and verifiable manner. Being debt-free provides no information about financial capacity. Financial capacity can be determined by submitting bank statements or proof of income. Thus, even individuals with low incomes can have a positive SCHUFA credit report and still not be in a financial position to invest over €1,000 per month in online sports betting . Nevertheless, the defendant accepted bets exceeding €1,000 from the plaintiff. As a result, the plaintiff exceeded his capacity and fell into financial hardship.”
Experts warn of the consequences
Addiction expert Tobias Hayer from the University of Bremen warns emphatically: ” It is likely that people prone to addiction will try to take advantage of this increased limit. Apparently, in this comparison, the economic interests of gambling providers have once again prevailed at the expense of player protection .”
The Federal Government’s Commissioner for Addiction and Drug Issues, Burkhard Blienert, is also “really angry” about this development and criticizes the fact that providers are given a “free pass” to ” make even more profit at the expense of health and ultimately the general public. “
Legal action for those affected
Legal support is available for players who have suffered losses due to such practices. The law firm of Attorney Cocron specializes in such cases and represents those who have suffered financial losses due to inadequate player protection measures.
” We are seeing more and more cases where players have gotten into financial difficulties due to these limit violations ,” explains the law firm of attorney Cocron. ” Current case law strengthens the position of those affected and opens up possibilities for reclaiming losses. “
Investigative reporting sheds light on the darkness.
The ARD program Monitor uncovered these practices in a detailed investigation. The full report is available in the ARD Mediathek and will be broadcast on March 6, 2025 at 9:45 p.m.
Conclusion: Player protection must be a priority
Given that there are 1.3 million gambling addicts and another 3.2 million at risk in Germany, effective player protection is essential. However, recent revelations show that economic interests often take precedence over the protection of gamblers.
Bremen’s Senator for the Interior, Ulrich Mäurer (SPD), sums it up: The authorization of the Schufa-G inquiry “contradicts the goals of the State Treaty on Gambling, which is to prevent the development of gambling addiction” and should be “prohibited immediately” for gambling providers.
Those affected should inform themselves about their rights and seek legal advice if necessary.
More information can be found on our topic page ” Exceeded deposit limit at online casino “.
