The Irish gambling market has been significantly shaken up by the 2021 State Treaty on Gambling. Understanding the intricacies of the new regulations imposed by the GlüStV is by no means a walk in the park for every player.
To help you become well-versed in the GlüStV 2021, we have compiled the most significant modifications and substantiated them with relevant legal provisions. In a nutshell, we will transform you into an expert on the subject within a matter of minutes. Here are the key amendments pertaining to players.
We will discuss these 15 modifications in detail.
- Only virtual slot games are permitted.
- Permanent disclosure of the payout ratio
- The autoplay feature is not available.
- The use of currency for transactions is limited to euros and cents.
- 5 second rule
- Maximum bet of one euro per game round
- Advertising only between 9 PM and 6 AM.
- Joining the OASIS system
- Connecting to the LUGAS system
- Monthly deposit limit of 1,000 euros.
- Delay in adjustment when increasing limits.
- No jackpot games allowed
- Take a 5-minute break after logging out.
- Simultaneous play is not allowed.
- Verification required within 72 hours.
Glücksspielstaatsvertrag: The 15 most significant changes
Only virtual slot games are permissible
The GlüStV significantly limits the game offerings in Irish online casinos. Only virtual slot games are permitted. Traditional casino and table games are not allowed to be offered online.
According to section 22a paragraph 2, it is stated: "Virtual slot games that resemble traditional table games with a dealer, such as roulette, blackjack, or baccarat, are prohibited."
2. Permanent disclosure of the payout ratio.
It is imperative for online casinos to provide players with continuous information regarding the payout percentage (also known as RTP). Furthermore, it is essential to display the average payout percentage for every euro wagered. These details should be presented directly within the game and at the location where you place your bet.
All of this is regulated under § 22a para. 3: "The prospects of winning must be random, and equal opportunities must be provided for every player. The rules of the game and the prize plan must be easily accessible and described in a readily understandable manner for the player. The player must be presented with the probability of winning the jackpot as well as the average payout percentages for each one euro wager. This information should be displayed where the wager can be placed."
3. The autoplay function is not available.
One of the significant changes in the Glücksspielstaatsvertrag 2021 revolves around the Autoplay feature, which was once a favorite among players but is now prohibited. Discovering this shift can be quite surprising.
This is determined under § 22a, paragraph 4: "A virtual slot game may only start as a result of a player's corresponding declaration, which may only be made after the previous game has ended. Specifically prohibited are program sequences that automatically initiate another game after the conclusion of the previous one, as well as a player's statements to participate in multiple consecutive games."
4. Deployments solely in euros and cents.
According to the 2021 State Treaty on Gambling, online casinos are required to display the stakes and winnings in euros and cents. It is prohibited to provide information in terms of points or any other values.
The following provision can be found in Section 22a (5): "Bets and winnings must be made in euros and cents only. Conversion of monetary amounts into other currencies, points, or any other units before, during, or after the game or as a result of the game is prohibited."
5. 5 Second Rule
A crucial new regulation is also the so-called 5-second rule. According to this, the State Treaty on Gambling stipulates that on average, a gaming round must last at least five seconds.
The § 22a Abs 6 imposes this requirement. It states: "A game must last at least an average of five seconds. A game starts with the explanation as defined in paragraph 4 sentence 1 and ends with the display of the result."
6. Maximum bet of one euro per game round
The new GlüStV also establishes the maximum bet per game round with just a short sentence. This limit is set at one euro.
You can locate the rule regarding this matter in Section 22a, Paragraph 7, which states: "The wager shall not exceed one euro per game."
Advertising only allowed between 9 pm and 6 am.
The advertising opportunities for providers will also be severely limited. The new state treaty on gambling stipulates that advertising may only be done between 9 pm and 6 am. This applies to both broadcasting and the internet. However, during this time window, licensed online casinos are allowed to legally advertise on TV and radio.
The requirement is regulated in Section 5 (3): "Advertising for virtual slot games, online poker, and online casino games is not allowed on radio and the internet between 6 am and 9 pm daily. (…)."
8. Connecting to the OASIS system.
All legal online casinos in Ireland must be connected to the OASIS system. This system serves as a blocking system where players are registered with a ban and thus excluded from participating in virtual slot games. The introduction of the system is clearly regulated in the GlüStV 2021, although it is not specifically mentioned by name.
For this purpose, Section 8 (1) is applicable: "To safeguard players and combat gambling addiction, a centralized, cross-game exclusion system will be established and maintained."
9. Connecting to the LUGAS system
Online casinos must also be connected to the LUGAS system. This is a limit file that monitors the monthly deposit limit. If you have reached this limit, LUGAS ensures that further deposits are not possible. This system is applicable across countries and providers.
The necessary instructions for implementation can be found in section 6c, paragraph 4: "The competent authority maintains a central file for limit monitoring (limit file) for the purpose of monitoring the cross-provider deposit limit according to paragraph 1. The limit file processes the personal data required for limit monitoring."
10. Monthly deposit limit of 1,000 euros.
The monthly deposit limit is mentioned earlier in the legislative text. The GlüStV 2021 also introduced this limit, which applies across providers and sets the amount at 1,000 euros. Once you have deposited this sum with a provider, you will not be able to make any further deposits this month. Neither with this provider nor with any other legal online casino in Ireland.
The regulation for this requirement is specified in Section 6c, Paragraph 1, Sentence 2: "The cross-provider deposit limit must not exceed 1000 euros per month as a general rule."
11. Delayed adjustment in case of limit increases.
At any time within the deposit limit, you have the option to set a personal limit. If you wish to set this lower, the implementation is immediate. However, if you wish to increase your limit, for example, from 500 euros to 800 euros, this will only be implemented after a so-called protection period of seven days.
The regulations for increasing limits are established in § 6c, paragraph 3: "Players must be given the opportunity to set a new limit at any time, according to paragraphs 1 and 2. If a player wishes to raise the limit, the increase will only take effect after a protection period of seven days. In cases where limits are reduced, the new limits will take effect immediately."
12. No jackpot games allowed
Irish Online Casinos dürfen in ihren virtuellen Automatenspielen keine progressiven Jackpots anbieten, bei denen die Jackpot-Gewinne durch die Einsätze der Spieler steigen. Es ist jedoch erlaubt, feste Jackpots anzubieten, bei denen der Gewinnbetrag fixiert ist. Die deutschen Online Casinos müssen sich daher an diese Richtlinien halten und sicherstellen, dass ihre Jackpot-Funktionen den geltenden Vorschriften entsprechen. Spieler können dennoch spannende und unterhaltsame Automatenspiele genießen, die mit festen Jackpots aufregende Gewinnmöglichkeiten bieten.
You can find the relevant requirement in section 22a paragraph 8: "A profit must consist of a predetermined multiple of the stake before the start of the game. Stakes, winnings, or parts of stakes or winnings may not be accumulated for the purpose of creating winnings for future games (jackpot prohibition)."
13. Take a 5-minute break after logging out.
When concluding your session at an online casino and desiring to continue playing at a different provider thereafter, you will need to observe a five-minute break.
The provision for this is provided by § 22a (9): "§ 6h (7) sentences 2 and 3 shall apply with the proviso that the player shall only be allowed to continue participating in virtual slot machine games five minutes after confirming their acknowledgment of the notification."
14. Simultaneous gameplay not permitted.
The prohibition of engaging in multiple games simultaneously is clearly regulated by the new Interstate Treaty on Gambling. This encompasses both participating in the same game with multiple operators and playing different games with one or more operators.
The stipulation is outlined in Section 22a Subsection 10. It states: "Simultaneously playing multiple virtual slot games is prohibited. This also applies to playing the same game. License holders must ensure this through appropriate technical measures. Players should only have one game displayed at a time."
15. Verification required within 72 hours
After registering at an online casino, you have a 72-hour window to complete the verification process. During this time, you can make a deposit of up to 100 euros. However, if you fail to verify your account within the stipulated 72 hours, it will be temporarily suspended. Access to your account will only be restored once the verification process has been successfully completed.
You can find this rule in § 6a para. 4: "Before confirming the accuracy of the information as per paragraph 2, enabling participation in the game and payouts to the player are not permitted. However, organizers or intermediaries may allow game participation via a game account for a period of 72 hours from registration as per paragraph 2, sentence 1, up to a deposit limit of 100 euros. In this case, the player must be informed before enabling game participation that withdrawals are not permitted until the accuracy of their information is confirmed; the player must confirm receipt of the notification."
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