Sports betting machines in Germany got a reprieve - but only a temporary one - when the German states postponed a plan to impose a state monopoly on gambling, banning private lottery agents and sports betting companies.
The postponement is only until next year, when ministers will ratify proposals to extend the states’ monopoly for four years. The new law will take effect in January 2008.
In March of this year the Federal Constitutional Court decided that the states can only insist on a monopoly if they amend their marketing techniques for their lotteries to conform with gambling addiction avoidance.
The states have already taken action against some sports betting companies, notably based in Austria.
