Novomatic has been awarded a licence to offer sports betting in Germany, through its subsidiary Admiral Sportwetten GmbH.

The supplier said its operator brand, based in Schleswig-Holstein, is one of the first private providers to be granted a sports betting licence by the Darmstadt Regional Court, after an extensive process.

The news follows the court finally issuing Germany’s first federal sports betting licences after years of delay. GVC Holdings announced it has secured licences for four of its brands, while Tipwin and Gauselmann Group were also awarded an online and land-based licence.

Jürgen Irsigler, managing director of Admiral Sportwetten GmbH, said: “The granting of this new sports betting licence once again confirms the high product quality and competence of the Novomatic AG Group.

“This is the first time that the regulator has created a legally secure basis for private sports betting providers.

“It is an important step to be able to further expand our range of services, especially in the online and mobile sectors.”

In May, the operator had said it will withdraw from the German retail betting market, after years of regulatory stalemate. However, it remains to be seen what change the awarding of a sports betting licence will have.

The German online market is expected to be regulated from July 2021.