The online gambling market in Germany could be worth as much as €1bn according to a new report published today by industry intelligence and analysis service GamblingData.
The German Gambling Market Report - one of a series published this year by GamblingData analysing the gaming outlook for a number of countries including France, Greece, Spain and Canada - maps the current landscape in the German gaming sector following the interstate gambling treaty introduced at the start of 2008.
The controversial treaty, due to expire at the end of this year, saw a blanket ban in the country on online gambling yet despite this, the new report from GamblingData values the German online market at between €760m and €960m.
"Despite the dark clouds of recession gathering over much of Europe at the moment, this new report suggests the online German gaming market is in rude health," said Scott Longley, GamblingData managing editor.
"And this, despite online gaming having been made all but illegal in Germany under the terms of the interstate gambling treaty, makes the findings of this report which values the industry at just shy of €1bn, hugely significant."
He added: "However, with the treaty coming to an end at the end of this month the German gaming industry is at a significant regulatory crossroads, with some important decisions to be made by the 16 federal states early in the new year. The number of licences issued and the severity of the taxation regime agreed upon will shape the short to medium term future of the industry and determine the rate at which the industry continues to grow."
