Thüringia has submitted legislation to the European Commission aimed at rewriting parts of the state's 2004 Casino Law. This new legislation, known as the Thüringian Law on Casino and Online Casino (ThürSpbkOCG), seeks to establish operating conditions specifically for online table games, which face restrictions under Germany's state treaty on gambling, the Glücksspielneuregulieringsstaatsvertrag (GlüNeuRStV).
Effective from July 1, the treaty allowed the introduction of online slots across all licensed operators but limited the number of table game licenses to the number of land-based casinos within each state. Thüringia, lacking any physical casinos, can permit the state lottery to maintain exclusive rights for these products.
The draft bill indicates that, given the approval of virtual slot machine games under a permit system for private providers in the GlüNeuRStV, it is necessary to restrict online casino offerings to create a monopoly. The goal is to clearly differentiate between the offerings of slot games and table games.
According to the proposed legislation, the holder of a table games license would be able to apply for a license that lasts ten years. Lotto Thüringen is a potential candidate for this license, which could lead to increased revenue for the state through its expansion into the online table games sector.
The bill also highlights concerns over a heightened risk of manipulation in online table games, stating that the organizer assumes the role of the banker. Consequently, applicants seeking exclusive rights must provide a high level of provisional detail. This bill has been submitted to the European Commission and is currently in a standstill period that lasts until February 24, 2022.
