Munich, Berlin, March 6, 2025. The Mayence Regional Court has reaffirmed in a further ruling that online sports betting providers must adhere to the statutory monthly deposit limit of €1,000.00. This decision represents another victory for players who have suffered financial losses through online sports betting.
High gambling losses due to illegal practices
In this case, the plaintiff wagered considerable sums with a Maltese betting provider between 2012 and 2021. Particularly noteworthy is the fact that the company operated in the German market without a German license until October 2020. After obtaining the license, the provider continued to disregard the legal deposit limit of €1,000 per month, allowing the player to make unlimited deposits. The court has now ordered the reimbursement of all stakes placed as a result of these limit violations.
Legal basis of the decision
The Mayence Regional Court fully upheld the plaintiff’s claim, basing its ruling on two key legal violations:
- Lack of a license until 2020 : The gaming contracts were void under Section 134 of the German Civil Code (BGB) because they violated the 2012 Interstate Treaty on Gambling. The operator therefore lacked the legal basis to retain gaming stakes.
- Violation of deposit limits after 2020 : Despite having received a license, the provider ignored the requirements of Section 6c Paragraph 1 of the State Treaty on Gambling 2021 regarding the monthly deposit limit of 1,000 euros.
A license alone does not guarantee legality.
” A license is not a license to disregard consumer protection regulations ,” emphasizes lawyer István Cocron. ” Even licensed providers must strictly adhere to all legal requirements, especially deposit limits as an important safeguard against over-indebtedness and gambling addiction. “
Opportunities for affected players
The ruling opens the possibility for many players to reclaim losses incurred. A refund is particularly likely if:
- The betting provider was operating without a German license at the time of the losses.
- Monthly deposits have exceeded the 1,000-euro limit
” Players who have deposited more than 1,000 euros per month should urgently have their claims for reimbursement against online sports betting providers reviewed ,” concludes lawyer Cocron.
More information can be found on our topic page ” Exceeded deposit limit at online casino “.
