SPORTS BETTING
Germany – DSWV argues that rise in customer bans does not equate to more problem gambling
By Phil - 7 June 2023
The German Sports Betting Association (DSWV) has highlighted that a number of German media outlets have reported that the number of entries in the OASIS national player ban file has increased from 47,000 bans in 2020 to 192,600 bans at the beginning of May 2023.
In this context, some media outlets falsely make it appear that the increase in player suspensions in the OASIS suspensions file in recent years is due to a substantial spread of problem gambling behavior in society. The German Sports Betting Association (DSWV) disagrees with this conclusion as it is incorrect.
As recently as June 2021, only 464 gaming operators with 1,529 operating sites were connected to OASIS. These were mainly gaming arcades in Hesse and Rhineland-Palatinate as well as casinos and a few sports betting operators. Today, there are more than 6,400 operators with over 29,500 premises.
Outside of Hesse and Rhineland-Palatinate, gaming venues were not allowed to be connected to OASIS until the new State Gambling Treaty came into force on July 1, 2021. In addition, since the end of 2020, there have been numerous newly licensed sports betting and online gaming providers, which were also previously not allowed to connect to OASIS for legal reasons.
In this respect, a relevant increase in player suspensions is only logical in view of the multiplication of betting shops, gaming venues and online organizers connected nationwide – even a higher increase should not have come as a surprise in purely statistical terms.
DSWV President Mathias Dahms explained: “It is not the number of gambling addicts that has increased, but the number of players who can be entered into OASIS and thus protected across all providers. The development of the OASIS figures is proof of successful player protection and the functioning blocking system.
However, to derive a general attack against the State Treaty on Gaming or the licensed gaming providers from the increased figures does not do justice to the history of the blocking file, nor to the improved player protection situation on the German gaming market.”
The DSWV and its member companies support the regulation of the gambling market. In the State Treaty on Gaming, the 16 federal states decided to ensure player protection through clear rules. The OASIS player barring file is a central element of player protection. Players have the option of blocking themselves here. Persons close to the player, such as partners or family members, can also initiate the blocking. In addition, gambling providers are required to impose so-called third-party blocks if they have indications of gambling addiction or indebtedness.
Mr. Dahms added: “In fact, the nationwide and cross-gambling form player blocking database has been implemented with strong support from gambling operators. It is a major step forward for player protection in Germany and a real success story that politicians, regulators and gambling operators alike can be proud of.”
