Online casinos are allowed to apply in Schleswig-Holstein
The new German State Gambling Treaty has been in force for just under a year. However, this does not mean that licenses have therefore already been issued. On the one hand, this is due to the fact that the specially created gambling supervisory authority has not yet started its activities, and, on the other hand, the federal states issue their own licenses. Some have already done so, while Schleswig-Holstein is now starting to do so.
Federal state awards four licenses
Five days ago, the respective Ministry of the Interior started issuing licenses to online casinos. Basically, it means that from now on, online gambling providers are allowed to submit an application. However, this application comes with fees, so it is impossible to estimate how many companies will apply. In addition to that, the government of Schleswig-Holstein only grants four licenses. Online Indian gambling sites already got their licenses.
Why there are four licenses of all things were revealed: Each federal state is allowed to issue as many licenses for online casinos as there are casinos in the state. In Schleswig-Holstein, there are five casinos. There are indeed five casinos in Schleswig-Holstein, which is why five licenses may be issued. However, after the state lottery receives a license, only four remain.
However, it will take some time before four online casino operators can enjoy a license. Schleswig-Holstein conducts a strict and detailed review process. How long it will take was not revealed in the ministry's own press release. Instead, more details were announced that both gambling companies and players would be happy about: The license will be issued for 15 years. And more games will be offered.
Roulette may be offered online
The German State Treaty on Gambling prohibits online gambling providers from offering roulette. But why can gamble providers in Schleswig-Holstein offer roulette? This is because the federal states are allowed to create their own laws. Accordingly, each federal state can decide whether online casinos are also allowed to offer roulette. And that is why Schleswig-Holstein will also allow roulette. For players, it means that they no longer have to visit a local casino.
In this context, the hope is that players will also no longer resort to an illegal offer. After all, this risk exists when there are no legal offers about roulette. As soon as the licenses are fixed, at least for Schleswig-Holstein, at least the players in this federal state can be happy that they are now allowed to play roulette online.