When you own money, you are always interested in multiplying it – right? Nevertheless, when you want to get more of it, it’s likely that you have to work more. But what if there was a way, which is easier and more comfortable – like gambling? For this topic, it’s necessary to separate the word gambling from the word gaming. While the term gaming is often used in the context of computer or video games, the term gambling requires three elements to define: a consideration (an amount wagered), a risk (chance) and a prize. When we talk about gambling, there is always a chance to win money included.
The gambling market is a huge topic in Germany since there was a chance in gambling laws on the 1st July 2021. This article focuses especially on the gambling situation in Germany, the new law of 2021 and the measures that are now common in all 16 federal states in Germany.
The situation in Germany
Did you know, that online-gambling was illegal in Germany until the 1st July 2021? Well, in most of Germany. One single federal state named Schleswig-Holstein had other rules for online gambling (but that’s not part of the text). Since the 1st July 2021 everything is new: All 16 federal states of Germany got the same rules for gambling. New measures for online casinos, sport bets, lotteries and arcades should control the black market, protect minors, reduce cases of fraud and fight gambling addiction. Beside all these heroic intentions, it’s a fact that the federal states of Germany earn a lot of money in the form of taxes when online gambling got legal.
But what are the most important changes in the gambling contract of Germany? Firstly, the user has to create a gambling account if she/he wants to join the game. In this account the user has to list his name and his age, which should prevent minors from gambling. The information must be checked by gambling providers. In addition, it is not allowed to pay more than 1000€ into the gambling account (of course the user is allowed to have only one single account). Live-casinos, table games and gambling at different providers are forbidden. Further, it is not allowed to advertise gambling on the internet and on the radio between 6am and 9pm. There is also a new invention called “panic-button” which will block the user from their account when used. Lastly, references about profits and losses must be given on the websites and people, who suffer gambling addiction, have to be blocked from all accounts.
Gambling addiction in Germany
Gambling has a high addiction potential. Let’s talk about some numbers about gambling in Germany: By now, about 400,000 people in Germany have a dangerous relation to gambling or are already addicted to it. In 2018, the total sale for gambling was about 46 billion Euro – and this enormous amount of money excludes phone lotteries, sport betting and online-gambling from private and foreign providers. The ones who win, also lose some time: Only about 28% of all gambling addicts have no debts at all and about 18% of people in debt because of gambling addiction have debts higher than 25.000€.
Welcome to the digital world: The danger of online-casinos
The future is digital. In times of digitalization, everyone is able to gamble – from everywhere. Online gambling from tablets, phones and notebooks is available all day long and can lead to uncontrollable, addictive gambling behavior.
Especially online casinos attract potential customers with colorful and shiny websites. One or two clicks and the user starts to invest small amounts of money. What starts as a small investment often leads to a high one – and what starts as a small commitment leads to a high prize. The virtuality of money makes the users lose their sense of reality and consequences – it feels just like a game to click, to deposit, to win and also to lose. In addition, the process of online gambling is really fast – only a few clicks and the money could be multiplied, the user wins (or loses) and the next round can be started with a few clicks more.
Furthermore, gambling is a highly emotional activity. Feelings like hope, anger, loss and joy can change very quickly during a gambling game and the user gets more and more involved into the online arcade. The interplay of these intense emotions leads to a very high addiction potential.
Online gambling (and gambling in general) is a timeless topic, which should be taken seriously. Please inform yourself about risks and dangers of gambling and play safely.
