GGL Fines Red Rhino €50,000

Online gaming operator Red Rhino has been fined €50,000 by Germany's gaming regulator Gemeinsame Glücksspielbehörde der Länder (GGL) for offering online gaming in the country without a licence.

Red Rhino had previously taken down its Platincasino.de domain, but left open the Platincasino.com to play for German punters despite not hold a licence in the country. The regulator also issued a fine to the casino's payment service provider, but didn't disclose who the company was.

Germany has approved of online gambling within the last few years, with GGL overseeing the industry. Groups that operate without a licence are liable for big fines, but with Red Rhino being based out of Malta, the chances of the fine being enforced may be slim. Malta has passed a law that shields MGA-licenced groups from liability in paying fees from other jurisdictions. This has drawn ire from countries like the Netherlands and Germany, who're contesting the law with the European Union.

Regarding the fine, GGL board member Benjamin Schwanke said, "The GGL's measures are having an impact and we are seeing an increasing pushback on existing unauthorised online gambling offers."

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