BET3000 Accuses German Gambling Authority of Abuse of Power
The German sports betting brand BET3000 is embroiled in a heated dispute with the Gemeinsame Glücksspielbehörde der Länder (GGL), the German gambling authority. Melina Borisic, CEO of BET3000, has published an open letter on May 26, 2025, making serious accusations against the authority. The core of the issue is the revocation of BET3000’s license on July 25, 2024. According to BET3000, this revocation was based on technical deficiencies that had already been resolved at the time of the decision.
The GGL’s decision came as a surprise to the company, without any prior warning. Borisic states that an attempt to resolve the conflict out of court was also blocked by the authority. The case is now before the courts, and the debate surrounding the role and methods of the GGL is intensifying.
Abuse of Power and Lack of Transparency?
Borisic’s letter is filled with criticism. She accuses the GGL of abuse of power and refers to “publicly funded arbitrariness.” She claims that the regulatory authority operates without any oversight and behaves disrespectfully and disproportionately towards market participants like BET3000.
The company is particularly critical of the lack of communication. BET3000 claims to have submitted extensive technical documentation and proposed solutions to the GGL as early as February 2025. However, they received no response. Later, content from BET3000’s documents allegedly appeared in a GGL paper, without any attribution or communication with the provider.
Financial Consequences for the State and Providers
According to Borisic, the consequences of the license revocation are significant not only for the company but also for the public sector. BET3000 estimates the tax shortfall at over 55 million euros. The provider employs over 1,500 people subject to social security contributions and is considered – after Tipico – one of the largest taxpayers in the legal German sports betting market.
Despite years of operating within the law and focusing on integrity and compliance, BET3000 now faces an existential threat from the authority’s actions. The company has been a fixture in the market for decades and was one of the first to receive a license after the Glücksspielstaatsvertrag (Interstate Treaty on Gambling) came into force in 2021.
Legal Action Initiated
Borisic announces that they will exhaust all legal remedies. In addition to ongoing administrative court proceedings, they are also considering a claim for official liability. The GGL is accused of violating fundamental principles of administrative law, including the obligation to be heard (§ 28 VwVfG), the obligation to provide reasons (§ 39 VwVfG), and the fundamental right to freedom of occupation (Art. 12 GG).
BET3000 acknowledges that a legal battle will be lengthy. Nevertheless, they want to set an example – for themselves, but also for other licensed providers who feel increasingly pressured.
An Industry Under Observation
The BET3000 case is not an isolated incident. Since the GGL was founded in 2021, the authority has faced repeated criticism. Market participants complain about lengthy processes, lack of transparency, and sometimes impractical implementation of regulations.
In a changing gambling market, where legally operating providers are fighting for trust and market share, this case comes at an inopportune time. The industry is watching closely how the GGL handles the situation – and what signal the legal dispute will send.
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