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Bundesliga match between Bayern and Berlin: Illegal Tipico advertising
Photo: Markus Fischer / IMAGO / Passion2Press
Hertha BSC is not the only loser in the Bundesliga match against FC Bayern Munich at Munich's Olympic Stadium on 30 April: one of the most popular advertising partners of German professional football, the sports betting provider Tipico, has now also suffered a failure.
During the match in April, the advertising slogans "Tipico – Place your bet now" and "Tipico – Official Partner of the Bundesliga" were repeatedly displayed on the boards on the sidelines. This is a violation of the State Treaty on Gambling of the federal states, which now allows sports betting from licensed providers such as Tipico, but strictly regulates advertising. Accordingly, a sports betting operator may only advertise on jerseys or boards with his brand name without further additions.
The Professional Association for Gambling Addiction, which is committed to gambling addicts, then issued a warning to Tipico and demanded a cease-and-desist declaration. In the meantime, the Malta-based company has relinquished this and undertakes to pay a contractual penalty in the event of further violations. Tipico is now likely to be fined by the joint gambling authority of the federal states.
The facility in Halle is responsible for monitoring the providers. "We have passed on our findings and know that the process is being investigated there," says Ilona Füchtenschnieder, chairwoman of the trade association.
»You have to be able to act quickly«
Füchtenschnieder observes numerous similar violations, but not all of them can be investigated by her association. For this reason, it calls for the federal states to set up a civil law organisation, such as an ombudsman's office on the subject of gambling, in addition to the joint authority. "Countries have very high revenues from gambling," she says, "but in order to get a grip on the market, you have to be able to act quickly and have the necessary financial resources to finance expensive lawsuits if necessary." It is financed by donations, for example.
For example, it is by no means certain whether organisations such as the trade association or German authorities will still be able to enforce their financial claims against betting providers in Malta in the future. The government there plans to prohibit the enforcement of foreign judgments from the EU against gambling operators licensed in Malta. This is presumably intended to protect them above all against the growing number of claims from players from Germany and Austria who demand back lost bets.
Mif