The German Soccer League (DFL) and the German Soccer Association (DFB) are planning to launch soccer betting products at the start of the 2006/07 season. The two organizations will ask members this week to sign off on their proposal to launch their own betting services.
In addition to seeking profits, the umbrella organizations are hoping the initiative will help them control and prevent betting rings. German soccer was shaken a few months ago by cases of referees being bribed to fix matches.
The German Federal Constitutional Court in Karlsruhe will rule this year on the legality of the betting monopoly in Germany.