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14th September, 2011 :: 14:41:17
Source: Casinos Online
Schleswig-Holstein approved licensees will be able to operate from March 2012
In passing its more liberal approach to online gambling Schleswig-Holstein has broken ranks with the other 15 German Lander despite recent talks to try & achieve a unified approach in Germany (see previous reports).
The passage today (Wednesday) of the new online gambling legislation, already approved by the European Commission , follows the customary parameters applied throughout Europe such as unlimited sports betting licences & will allow licenced gambling companies to offer exchange betting, sports betting, poker & casino game services with the exclusion of baccarat, blackjack & roulette.
Additionally a 20 percent gross profit tax will be applied to operators, a somewhat more viable option than the 16.67 percent individual stakes tax being bandied about previously.
The Schleswig-Holstein law will come into force in January 2012 with approved licences valid from March 2012.
A spokesperson for online betting exchange Betfair said: âEURњSchleswig HolsteinâEUR™s new online gambling treaty is a welcome piece of legislation geared towards creating a genuinely open, transparent & responsible online gambling market in Germany.
âEURњWe are pleased that it has today passed through the State Parliament & we look forward to applying for a licence to operate there.
âEURњWe are now hopeful that the other 15 German States will make the required amendments to their proposed State Treaty, in order to bring it into line with EU law & with the law passed in Schleswig-Holstein today.
"Betfair is committed to participating in the online gambling market in Germany, ready & willing to pay taxes there & offer German consumers competitive, innovative & safe products.âEURќ
Schleswig-Holstein-based gambling firm JAXX SE , parent company of MyBet.com , confirmed it would too be applying for licencing for its subsidiaries as soon as parameters had been finalised.
Mathias Dahms , Management Board spokesman of JAXX commented: âEURњWe welcome today's decision by the state parliament in Kiel. The new gaming legislation sets the bar high for promoters & sales partners, with standards that lead the way in Europe. Only serious, economically sound companies such as JAXX SE will be in a position to meet the requirements for the licences.
âEURњThe new law provides legal certainty & strikes a fair balance between protecting players, the interests of consumers & entrepreneurial liberty."
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