Schleswig-Holstein Begins Granting Online Sportsbetting Licenses

The German state of Schleswig-Holstein has begun awarding online sportsbetting licenses, awarding three such licenses to mybet.de, betfair.de, and NordWest Lotto.

The awarding of the licenses has come after Schleswig-Holstein battled the other 15 German states to allow more liberal online gambling rules.

The operators inside of Schleswig-Holstein will now be able to offer sportsbetting services to punters within the state and will be required to pay a gross profit tax of 20%. The tax is seen as being favorable compared to the tax on turnover.

Commenting on his company's new license, JAXX SE CEO Mathias Dahms said: "Of course we are very proud to hold one of the first Schleswig-Holstein sports betting licenses in our hands, the approval for mybet has already become a historical document, because it is for a future-oriented regulation of the gaming system."

"The regulatory authority in Kiel has achieved a particularly complex and demanding process, which in some cases significantly exceed the requirements in other European countries. It was a tough job."

"Schleswig-Holstein is seen as the only State to formulate a European and constitutional compliant law, which takes into account the interests of the players, the provider and the country alike. The treaty draft of the other 15 states is obviously a bad compromise, which has become entangled in a federal scrub. Even the opposition in the State Parliament will now find that their own gambling law is good for the country and its finances."

Betfair's Chief Legal and Regulatory Affairs Officer Martin Cruddace also commented, saying: “We are delighted to have been awarded one of the first three licences to operate in Schleswig Holstein. We look forward to making a significant and sustainable contribution to the newly formed market there, offering consumers innovative products in a safe and responsible betting environment."

“Schleswig Holstein’s government should be applauded for its efforts to implement a regulatory regime that will provide security for consumers, transparency for regulators and the freedom to compete for EU operators.”