SCHLESWIG HOLSTEIN ONLINE GAMBLING LICENCE PRICES SET?

Monday, October 24,2011 : Breakaway German state will start accepting licence applications early next year
 
Schleswig Holstein, the German state that decided to chart its own course on legalised online gambling earlier this year has indicated the likely extent of its licence fees preparatory to accepting new licence applications in January 2012.
 
According to draft proposals due for ratification later this (October) month, licensees will have to pay around Euro 15 000 at the outset, with annual fees on a sliding scale that ranges from Euro 15 000 to Euro 150 000 depending on turnover.
 
Sources within the lander administration have indicated that there has already been considerable interest from European online gambling operators.
 
If Schleswig Holstein does as well as the Danes it will have little to complain about. The Danish licensing authority revealed last week that there has been an outstanding response to its offer to licence operators, despite its rather stiff requirements and significant tax implications.
 
Forty three companies have so far reportedly submitted applications for 68 licenses in preparation for the market opening up in January 2012.
 
The Danish Gambling Authority said that among the applications there had been 25 requests for casino and sports betting licenses and 22 for dedicated online casino licensing.
 
Sportingbet, which recently reported the acquisition of two Danish betting operators  will almost certainly be among the new market entrants, but the identity of other applicants has not yet officially been made known.