Players demand their money back
Process against betting providers: Start of negotiations fixed
07/31/2025 – 2:17 p.m.Reading time: 2 min.
The European Court of Justice is intended to clarify whether sports betting in Germany had been illegal for several years and players get their missions back. The negotiation starts earlier than expected.
The European Court of Justice (ECJ) has set the start date for the procedure between process financier Gamesright and betting provider Tipico. The process in Luxembourg begins at the hearing on September 24, 2025 and thus earlier than expected. Originally, a start of negotiations had been assumed in November.
Background of the process: Numerous sports betting providers such as Tipico, Betano or Bwin acted in Germany between 2013 and 2021 without a German license. As a result, their offers would be illegal and the contracts concluded between the provider and player would be void. Some dishes in this country already fell in favor of the players, thousands of procedures are still running.
The providers in turn rely on the applicable European law that their business was allowed. The Federal Court of Justice (BGH) had issued a notice of reference in early 2024 that was in favor of the players. Then, however, he suspended the procedure and gave the case to the ECJ. From September in the lead trial between Gamesright and Tipico, it should now be clarified who is right.
Hannes Beuck, co-founder of Gamesright, says: “We expressly welcome the schedule by the ECJ. The first thing to do is confirm our course that our procedure is first negotiated before the highest European Court of Justice.”
A Tipico spokesman emphasized: “We are confident about the clarification by the ECJ, because we assume that-as in the past-this time will decide in our sense.” A judgment is expected in the course of 2026.