As reported on the Web site of the European Association of Betting Entrepreneurs, Verband Europäischer Wettunternehmer, (VEWU.com), the district court Velbert has acquitted a German sports betting "go between."
With judgment (§284 StGB) of 01.08.2006, the court decided that it is already questionable whether sports betting can be regarded as a game of chance, based on the fact that stock exchange transactions are not regarded, in the legal sense, a game of chance. It was, therefore, determined that the accused only passed on tickets and, thus, did not organize the bets for his customers, so pronounced the judges.
"Lotteries are a poor investment; one can do better in the stock market," authors Jean-Marc Lafaille and Guy Simons wrote in their analysis of gaming, "Dissected and Re-Assembled." The authors added, "Gaming is a branch of the entertainment sector and has nothing to do with investment. It is true that a potential payoff is expected, but no one cries the blues when their ticket price does not return 'x' percentage. Gaming is not investment; it is a purchase from disposable income."
Any game of chance bought for purposes as an investment is a dumb mistake, according the two writers, who follow up with, "It bears repeating that the purchaser of a lottery ticket makes no economic sense if considered an investment, but it is a sound decision if it is bought as entertainment such as pocket book or video rental."
Also making news in Germany was this week's meeting of the German sport federations, who are divided over the admittance of private operators, as demanded by the German Soccer Federation (DFB) and the German Football League (DFL).
During a meeting of leaders of the federations on Tuesday in Frankfurt, the soccer organizations secured themselves with the lion's share of the national incomes from gambling and betting.
The different views of the soccer organizations and the other national sport federations could not be eliminated. The German lands of the Federal Republic want to stay as national monopolies, and the most important sports organization, the soccer leagues and association, are against that. The soccer organizations believe an open market will bring more money for the soccer organizations.
The judgment of the German Federal Constitutional Court in Karlsruhe from March 28, 2006, leaves the possibilities open for more concessions. And soccer is by far the strongest stakeholder.