Schleswig-Holstein (ISTG) Licensed Casinos

Schleswig-Holstein Ministry of Home Affairs and Federal Affairs Casinos

In Schleswig-Holstein, gambling is a favorite pastime for many people. Every year, the legal gaming sector generates billions of euros in revenue. Global gross gaming revenue for 2018 was €14.2 billion, according to survey estimates. Online gambling claimed more than 3 billion and 10 billion euros from brick-and-mortar casinos, slot machines, and lotteries.

In the state, gambling is a popular pastime. The casinos and poker rooms are always busy. Betting on sports, horse races or roulette also has a sizable following. Poker tournaments can attract huge numbers of participants at once. Although, there is certainly a risk of developing an addiction to gambling. But, only if it becomes regular and compulsive. Most people who gamble never become addicted according to experts. But then again they might not be able to stop either. Still, the state continues to be one of Europe's most popular destinations for gambling tourists.

History

Gambling in the region has been popular since ancient times. Ancient Roman soldiers first introduced gambling to the region. Already during the Roman Empire, gambling was popular in this area. The Romans spread gambling wherever they went. Residents soon became interested in these activities, which led to a boom in the gambling scene in the region.

In addition, Germany has two of the oldest casinos in the world. The oldest casino IST Casino Wiesbaden was built-in 1810. It is one of the oldest casinos in the world. The design and structure come from the ancient Romans with statues of Greek mythology carved into the building. The second oldest casino, The Kurhaus of Baden-Baden, was built-in 1824. These casinos have more than 200 games and boasted both a great design and a great experience. People from all over the world flock to these two casinos to enjoy the best gambling experience.

World War II had a major impact on the gambling market in Germany. Most of the casinos were closed and many others were destroyed. After the end of the war, however, everything began to slowly return to the old track. All the casinos that had closed in 1872 reopened. Finally, in 1995, all bans were lifted. This happened mainly when the authorities understood gambling as a lucrative market in the region.

Currently, there are more than 400 established gambling halls in the region. The country is a hub of gambling activities with tourists coming from all parts of the world. But gambling can also become addictive. Therefore, players must adhere to strict social boundaries while playing.

Gambling Laws and Regulations

Gambling laws did not exist in Germany until after World War II. Until this period, there was no gambling regulation in the country. It was only after World War II that gambling laws came into effect in the country. In 1949, after World War II, the German constitution gave the West German states the power to formulate their gambling laws.

From 1950 to 1990, most states enacted their gambling laws. At first, only lotteries and sports betting were popular and regulated. Later, however, casino games gained more attention and became popular among residents. This led to the removal of restrictions on all casino games and activities. Finally, in 1990, after German reunification, East Germany began creating its gambling laws.

Finally, in 2012, the ISTG was successfully approved. Although the EU prevented its implementation in the country. It designated online gambling as a legal entity in the country. However, the state of Schleswig-Holstein did not accept the treaty. 2012 was a real game changer for Schleswig-Holstein. The county implemented its gambling law and granted nearly 50 casino licenses. At that time, all casino licenses granted would remain valid for 6 years.

A year later, the law was revoked, but license holders were allowed to continue operating until the end of their validity. They created their gambling laws and licensed casinos and operators. That took one year, as the state adopted the treaty in 2013. Finally, in 2021, an amended new Interstate Treaty was approved. It is the sole regulatory body for gambling-related activities in the country.

ISTG as a Regulatory Body

The new ISTG was approved in 2021. It was primarily because online gambling was previously completely banned in the country. But in 2012, Schleswig-Holstein issued its gambling law, which is still partially valid today, as some licenses were issued for 6 years.

The ISTG imposes strict restrictions. Mainly on how much individuals can bet per day, week, or month. This is to maintain public safety and prevent gambling-related crime. Players who violate these rules may be fined or jailed. In recent years, the council has also cracked down on illegal online gaming platforms. All these platforms are operated outside the official channels. Gambling is legal as long as it complies with regulations set by the governing board. Casinos, poker rooms, bookies, and other similar establishments must obtain a license is necessary before starting operations.

In addition, the ISTG verifies licenses and operators in the gambling market. Regular checks and tests with the software are carried out by the authenticity control authorities. This checks whether the operator in the country is providing services legally or not. In addition, as an applicant, you must agree not to offer any games or services that are unlawful under the ISTG. All licensees must adhere to strict moral standards set by the authority. This includes banning gambling and marketing products to minors.

Provisions of ISTG

The ISTG aims to improve the regional gambling market and make it a hub for foreign companies. To achieve its goals, the ISTG is guided by many principles. This is necessary to keep the office on track. The principles of authority are:

• Prevention of addiction to gambling and betting.
• Effective control of gambling addiction.
• Help people's natural desire to play in an orderly and controlled way.
• Protection of the young player.
• Ensuring proper gaming procedures.
• Fraud prevention.
• Prevention of risks to the integrity of gambling and sports
• Impartial mediation of sports bets.
• Guaranteed exclusion of minors who are under 18 years old.
• Prevention of lending money to players.
• Adoption of the social concept of the protection of minors.
• Setting up graphically separated areas on the same online domain for different forms of gambling.

Licenses provided by ISTG are a source of operator safety and authenticity. It ensures the safety of players and the credibility of operators.

Player Protection

The ISTG protects players and provides you with a safe gaming environment. There are always a few important aspects to consider when choosing any online sports betting site. You should always consider them for a safe entertainment experience. Take a good look at the logo on the portal to make sure the site is official and safe to play. Sites that do not have any certification can be closed by the authority at any time. Once the portal is occupied, your money may be confiscated. Thus, ISTG provides a safe playing field for all its users. It also ensures that financial security is at the highest level for all players.

All gambling websites must regularly comply with the regulations of the ISTG. This is to ensure that all these sites adhere to strict software requirements. ISTG takes all your complaints seriously. They try to solve them as quickly as possible.