DSWV Criticizes Documentary for Misleading Portrayal of Amateur Football Betting
The German Sports Betting Association (DSWV) has hit out at a recent Bayerischer Rundfunk documentary that it claims misleads viewers about betting on German amateur football through licensed operators in other EU countries.
Allegations of Misleading Content
In the documentary “Attack on Amateur Soccer – The Greed of Betting Providers” it is claimed that Germans can bypass domestic bans and bet on local amateur games via foreign betting platforms. The DSWV says this is misleading and omits important facts that would inform the viewer about the actual legal and technical hurdles.
International betting operators use geolocation technology to block cross-border betting. According to the DSWV “EU providers prevent cross-border betting through geoblocking. German customers are identified through their IP addresses then blocked from accessing legal sites in other markets.”
The documentary shows a German customer working around these measures but the DSWV says it doesn’t make clear that this requires technical manipulation, gives the false impression that it’s easy to do.
The DSWV also points out that the film doesn’t explain the identity verification process for collecting winnings. “Additionally, EU providers are required to fully identify bettors, which can be done by scanning a government-issued ID document. They’re also required to authenticate customers every time they log in,” the association explains.
By not mentioning these requirements the film gives the impression that winnings from unauthorized bets can be collected without ID, which is not true.
Tough Regulations in Germany
Under the Gemeinsame Glücksspielbehörde der Länder (GGL) betting on amateur sports in Germany is illegal. Geoblocking and identity checks are used to prevent German residents from betting abroad.
The DSWV says “the GGL’s regulations are among the strictest in Europe,” and these strict rules have led to a 5.4% year on year decline in turnover in 2023. The association attributes this to “restrictions on marketing activities, as well as bans on live betting which the DSWV feels is driving Germans towards the black market.”
The fragmentation of betting regulations across EU member states is adding to the confusion. While some countries allow betting on amateur sports, others like Germany have a total ban.
The DSWV says the documentary is actually showing “how the fragmentation of betting regulations in the EU is causing issues,” rather than exposing the wrongdoing of legal providers.
The Real Problem
Emphasizing the real threat to the German betting market, the DSWV states, “The real problem in connection with the German sports betting market is not the websites of legal betting providers in neighboring European countries, but the numerous low-threshold and highly advertised betting offers from illegal sites. These evade all regulation and taxation and are very present in Germany.”
The association says efforts should be focused on combating these unregulated operators rather than criticising licensed providers who comply with the strict regulations.
The DSWV demands fair media representation of the betting industry and EU wide regulation. By solving the inconsistencies in betting laws it will reduce the attractiveness of the black market and protect the consumer.
