The Higher Administrative Court of Saxony-Anhalt has ruled that the newly established German gambling regulator, Gemeinsamen Glücksspielbehörde der Länder (GGL), has the power to sanction legal online gambling providers who advertise on gambling affiliate websites that also feature unlicensed online casinos.
The ruling follows the GGL’s recent decision to fine a licensed operator, the first fine issues by the new regulator. According to the announcement, the license holder advertised its services and products on a website that also listed illegal online gambling providers which are not licensed to operate in Germany. This is strictly against advertising regulations.
The court hearing was to confirm that the GGL had interpreted the rules correctly and was within its rights to issue the company with a fine and ban any other licensed gambling operators from advertising in the same way.
According to the GGL announcement:
Court Rules German Regulator can Sanction Gambling Operators over Affiliate Advertising Court Rules German Regulator can Sanction Gambling Operators over Affiliate Advertising Court Rules German Regulator can Sanction Gambling Operators over Affiliate Advertising, online poker, and online slots. The court ruled that the ban on this type of advertising is legally binding and will remain in place.