Entain granted gaming and poker licences in Germany

Sports betting and gaming group Entain said on Monday that it has been awarded five-year licences by the State Administrative Office of Saxony-Anhalt, for the operation of its gaming and poker services throughout Germany.

Entain has been granted all five licences it applied for, enabling it to offer gaming under its bwin, Ladbrokes and Sportingbet brands, and poker under bwin and Ladbrokes. Entain is the first operator to be licenced to offer online poker.

Robert Hoskin, chief governance officer, said: "We're delighted to now have our licences for gaming and poker services in the regulated German market, enabling us to offer and market them to our customers.

"It is an important and welcome step towards achieving the goal of a fully regulated online betting and gaming market in Germany. Only through such regulation and its enforcement will we avoid the reality of customers going to the black market where there are none of the safeguards that reputable operators such as Entain guarantee."