The Regional Council of Darmstadt (RP Darmstadt) has revealed that it will continue with the process of sports-book license applications, despite the fact that a court ruled to block it from actually issuing concessions to operators.
The Council is endeavoring to appeal the decision that was issued by the Darmstadt Administrative Court on 1st April 2020.
The challenge was brought by Vierklee, an Austrian bookmaker, and resulted in the presiding judge accepting its assertion that the process was not being handled in a transparent manner and that it was biased in favor of market holders.
The full ruling that was issued days later, emphasized an unclear decision making process at RP Darmstadt and questioned the Glucksspiellollegium’s role – a state regulatory body that has been extensively discredited as unconstitutional.
RP Darmstadt said that it will continue to assess applications that have already been submitted while appealing the decision of the Kassel Administrative Court in an endeavor to make sure that the process would be able to restart should it prevail in its challenge.
The Council also revealed that 50 operators had applied or committed to apply for a sports-book license by February 2020 and that it will continue to accept new applications and all accompanying documentation.
Operators have, however, been warned that with it not yet being certain that its appeal will be upheld, that it would not be liable for any costs related to the application. The Council advised companies that had submitted a license application that they would, meanwhile, be allowed to continue operating in the state.
