In just a very few days, on January 1 to be exact, Germany will prohibit online gambling. All 16 German states approved a law to prevent all online gambling.
Under their new law, wagers made from Germany to gaming companies outside the country are also illegal. German states also have the authority to demand that internet service providers block web sites which promote betting, and have the authority to force banks to stop gaming-related money transfers.
Bwin Interactive Entertainment, which operates under license by the former East German government prior to unification, is suing four German states and is seeking to continue offering online bets after the new rules come into effect. They claim their license trumps the online wagering ban. Cases are pending, but this law looks like the Unlawful Internet Gaming Enforcement Act (UIGEA) on steroids, and it will be interesting to see the reactions and responses from within Germany.
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