The Gemeinsame Glücksspielbehörde der Länder (GGL), the German Gambling Authority, has called for a reconsideration of a planned reform. 

The Federal Ministry of Justice is seeking to delete a paragraph from the Criminal Code relating to the GGL being able to file criminal charges with the public prosecutor's office on suspicion of illegally organising a game of chance.  

For the GGL, this would be viewed as a loss of important tools for combating illegal gambling and would significantly jeopardise its fight against it. 

The GGL Board of Directors have asked for clarification over whether German criminal law is even applicable to gambling providers based abroad and if it could be taken into account in the upcoming amendment to the criminal law. 

GGL Board member, Ronald Benter, said: “The fact that we have built such a powerful team in a short space of time is quite remarkable. The employees have acquired a lot of know-how in a very short time and are pursuing the goals of GGL with real passion. This is also reflected to us from different sides.

“We would like the Federal Ministry of Justice to rethink the planned reform and rather demand that the paragraph be expanded to include illegal gambling providers based abroad. The possibility of criminal prosecution abroad will have a deterrent effect on illegal providers.”  

In other news, Frankfurt has been confirmed as the seat of the new European Anti-Money Laundering Authority (AMLA) by the European Gaming and Betting Association (EGBA).