German Gambling Regulator Asks ISPs to Block Illegal iGaming Websites

The Office for the Regulation of Gambling, the Slovakian gaming authority, has announced a whitelist for websites run by licensed operators in order to help players recognise which offerings are legal.

The authority has also historically maintained a similar public register for illegal websites.

Dávid Lenčéš, the authority general director, emphasised the inventiveness of grey and black market operators in a statement explaining the new feature.

“We prevent one illegal website from operating and another one is created immediately. The creativity of their operators has no limits,” said Lenčéš.

“They often try to motivate players with irresistible bonus offers, modern visuals, unlimited deposits, and in the case of foreign operators the perfect Slovak language. If players do not check the mandatory details of the website, they may have no reason to suspect that it is illegal content operating outside our country.”

“However, by playing on the illegal website, they are depriving themselves of the possibility of getting their winnings and their legal protection under the laws in force in the Slovak Republic,” Lenčéš added.

Lenčéš continued, explaining the risks that players take when they gamble with an unlicensed operator.

“In the section ‘legal websites’ we publish all licensed websites of licensed entities. This means that all others not included in this list are illegal. Illegal websites can deprive players of their stakes and winnings and are available to risk groups for whom gambling can pose mental health.”

“With more easily obtain information about the legality of a website, we are point out to the scope for playing online gambling games, which are under the control of the valid Slovak legislation.”

To qualify for a place on the list, legal websites must fulfil the obligations set forth by the country’s Gambling Act.

“We have tools that allow remote supervision. If we find any violations, there are sanctioning procedures, possibly even removal of the license.”

The sanctions also apply to those who promote illegal sites such as affiliates. The sanctions run from €50,000 for a human and up to €250,000 for those behind an AI promotion.

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