Saarland ratifies German online casino treaty
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The proposal was first approved in March 2020, and it aims to legalise online poker and casino games in the country from July 1 2021.
The governing Christian Democratic Union (CDU) and Social Democratic Party (SPD) voted for the bill, as did Die Linke, while Alternativ für Deutschland (AfD) abstained.
The implementation of GlüNeuRStv was dependent on ratification from 13 states, in accordance with article 3 of the legislation.
After being cleared within Saarland, attention turns to the two remaining states yet to go through the process: Nordrhein-Westfalen and Sachsen Anhalt, the latter of which will host the new regulator.
The agreement also extends to sports betting, although the state will still retain control of the lottery markets.
As opposed to the previous Schleswig-Holstein model, GlüNeuRStv will be much more restrictive when it comes to online casnios.
Slots will be capped at €1 per spin, with a five-second average spin speed in place.
Table games will be required to be offered separately, and individual states will retain the option to grant lotteries a monopoly for the product.
Online slots and poker will also see a steep 5.3% turnover tax.
