Gambling Supervision Authority Germany

• Gambling Supervision Authority Germany International
• Gambling Supervision Authority Germany Immigration
• Gambling Supervision Authority Germany Official

In March 2017, a new German Interstate Treaty on Gambling (ISTG) was agreed upon by the Prime Ministers of the 16 German Federal States. The new ISTG, which will rule gambling law in all of. Online gambling revenue in Germany reached an estimated €2.5bn in 2017 ahead of agreement on the country’s third Interstate Treaty on Gambling in March 2019, which would lift a controversial cap on.

Content

• Part I Structure and management
• Part II Administrative Council
• Part III Budgetary management
• Part IV Transfer of rights and duties, publication

(Satzung der Bundesanstalt für Finanzdienstleistungsaufsicht)

Please note:Ger­man ver­sion is bind­ing

This translation is furnished for information purposes only and may refer to an older version of the text. The original German text is binding in all respects.

Part I
Structure and management

Section 1
Name, structure and organisation of the Supervisory Authority

(1) The Supervisory Authority's full name is “Bundesanstalt für Finanzdienstleistungsaufsicht” (Federal Financial Supervisory Authority). The abbreviation 'BaFin' may also be used in the course of business.

(2) The following directorates are established to perform the Supervisory Authority’s statutory functions: Internal Administration and Legal Affairs, Banking Supervision, Insurance and Pension Funds Supervision, Securities Supervision/Asset Management and Resolution. The directorates consist of departments and divisions; the latter may be combined into groups. In addition, units that report directly to the President may be set up for cross-directorate duties. The resultant organisational structure is laid down by the Executive Board of the Supervisory Authority with the approval of the Federal Ministry of Finance (Federal Ministry).

Section 1a
Resolution Directorate

(1) The duties of the resolution authority within the meaning of section 3 (1) of the Recovery and Resolution Act (Sanierungs- und Abwicklungsgesetz) are performed in a manner that is operatively independent from the ongoing supervisory duties of the Supervisory Authority. If the Resolution Directorate also performs duties other than those of the resolution authority within the meaning of the Recovery and Resolution Act, this shall be done in a manner that is organisationally separate from its resolution duties.

(2) The Supervisory Authority shall ensure that the employees of the organisational unit which is entrusted with resolution activities do not also perform functions or duties as part of the Supervisory Authority's other activities and that the employees of the organisational units which are entrusted with supervisory activities do not also perform functions or duties as part of the Supervisory Authority's activities as resolution authority. This shall not hinder the close cooperation between all employees of the Supervisory Authority in cross-directorate or organisation-wide working groups or projects.

(3) The organisational unit entrusted with resolution activities is located in Frankfurt am Main.

(4) The Supervisory Authority shall ensure there is close cooperation and a mutual exchange of information between the Resolution Directorate and all other directorates for the purpose of effectively and efficiently preparing and implementing resolution decisions and measures. The Supervisory Authority shall in particular ensure that the organisational unit entrusted with resolution activities has access to all information that is available to those entrusted with supervisory activities.

Section 2
Rights and duties of the bodies of the Supervisory Authority

(1) The Executive Board has overall responsibility for managing the Supervisory Authority, without prejudice to the Federal Ministry’s right to issue instructions.
(2) The President represents the Supervisory Authority before the courts and out of court. The President’s permanent deputy is a Chief Executive Director, acting as Deputy President. The Deputy President is appointed by the Federal Ministry based on a proposal by the President.
(3) Pursuant to section 6 (1) sentence 3 and (2) sentence 5 of the Act Establishing the Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (Finanzdienstleistungsaufsichtsgesetz) the Executive Board unanimously adopts an organisational statute and rules of procedure, which require the approval of the Federal Ministry, as do amendments thereto. The Administrative Council is to be heard if provisions are adopted in the rules of procedure relating to the specific directorates which lead to additional cost burdens on one of the sectors of the financial services industry, namely banking, insurance or securities trading.
(4) The Executive Board regularly issues publications of the Supervisory Authority.

Part II
Administrative Council

Section 3
Appointment and dismissal of members of the Administrative Council

(1) Only those persons in possession of the necessary expert knowledge required to perform the relevant duties shall become members of the Administrative Council. Members are appointed and dismissed by the Federal Ministry pursuant to section 7 of the Act Establishing the Federal Financial Supervisory Authority. The associations of the banking and insurance industries and of the asset management companies (Kapitalverwaltungsgesellschaften) specified in (6) shall be heard prior to the appointment of members pursuant to section 7 (3) sentence 1 no. 2 (d) of the Act Establishing the Federal Financial Supervisory Authority. The Chairperson of the Administrative Council and their deputy are appointed for a term of five years. Other members and their deputies are appointed for a term of four years, unless otherwise specified in section 7 (6) of the Act Establishing the Federal Financial Supervisory Authority; reappointment is possible in both cases. Appointments and dismissals shall be reported in the publications of the Supervisory Authority.
(2) Prior to any appointment, a curriculum vitae of the prospective member shall be submitted to the Federal Ministry. A simultaneous membership of or function as a deputy in an authorised representative body or holding a position as a member or deputy member of a supervisory board, administrative board or equivalent body of a company subject to financial supervision or any other commercial company must be disclosed to the Federal Ministry. Members with functions in an authorised representative body of a company subject to financial supervision shall not be appointed. This shall not affect section 6 (5).
(3) Membership of the Administrative Council lapses if the member relinquishes their membership by written declaration to the Federal Government or if the Federal Ministry establishes vis-à-vis the Administrative Council that the prerequisites of the appointment of the member are no longer fulfilled. Dismissal on exceptional grounds shall occur if the Federal Ministry establishes after hearing the Administrative Council that in the case of a member a compelling reason exists with regard to their person that justifies their dismissal. In particular, such compelling reasons include those that would bar public officials from performing their duties (section 66 of the Federal Civil ServiceAct (Bundesbeamtengesetz)) or which would justify suspension from public office (section 38 of the Federal Disciplinary Act (Bundesdisziplinargesetz)), or a breach of the obligation of confidentiality specified in section 11 of the Act Establishing the Federal Financial Supervisory Authority. The member shall first be given an opportunity to state their position.

(4) For the members of the Administrative Council within the meaning of section 7 (3) sentence 1 no. 1 of the Act Establishing the Federal Financial Supervisory Authority, the Federal Ministry shall appoint two deputy members of the Administrative Council; these shall act as Administrative Council members in accordance with the number of seats held by the Federal Ministry in the event of one or more of the members of the Administrative Council appointed by the Federal Ministry being unable to perform their duties. A deputy shall be nominated, and appointed by the Federal Ministry, for each member of the Administrative Council pursuant to section 7 (3) sentence 1 no. 2 (a) to (c) of the Act Establishing the Federal Financial Supervisory Authority. The Deputy Chairperson deputises for the Chairperson of the Administrative Council; if both the Chairperson and deputy are unable to perform their duties, then another member of the Administrative Council from the Federal Ministry shall take the chair; in this case, in accordance with the number of seats held by the Federal Ministry additional representatives of the Federal Ministry may act as deputy members of the Administrative Council. If a member of the Administrative Council leaves before the end of the period for which they have been appointed, then a replacement member shall be appointed without undue delay by the Federal Ministry. The same shall apply to deputy members.

(5) The members of the Administrative Council serve in an honorary capacity. They shall be reimbursed for travel expenses in accordance with the regulations of the Federal Travel Expenses Act (Bundesreisekostengesetz). A daily allowance shall not be granted.

(6) Prior to the appointment of the persons specified in section 7 (3) sentence 1 no. 2 (d) of the Act Establishing the Federal Financial Supervisory Authority, the following associations shall be heard and each have a right to nominate one person by name:

1. the German Banking Industry Committee (Deutsche Kreditwirtschaft);
2. the German Insurance Association (Gesamtverband der Deutschen Versicherungswirtschaft e.V.); and
3. the German Investment Funds Association (Bundesverband Investment und Asset Management e.V.).

The right to be heard and the right of nomination apply as long as the statutory distribution of seats in the Administrative Council remains unchanged.

Section 4
Powers of the Administrative Council

(1) The Administrative Council monitors and assists the Management of the Supervisory Authority. Its duties comprise in particular:

1. the adoption of the budget (section 12 (2) of the Act Establishing the Federal Financial Supervisory Authority) presented by the Executive Board;
2. the approval of the annual accounts and the formal approval of the actions of the Executive Board in accordance with section 12 (3) and (5) of the Act Establishing the Federal Financial Supervisory Authority, taking into account the auditor’s report and any findings of the Federal Court of Audit (Bundesrechnungshof) of which the Administrative Council has gained knowledge;
3. the hearing prior to mandating the auditor for the Supervisory Authority;
4. the issuing of the rules of procedure of the Administrative Council (section 7 (2) of the Act Establishing the Federal Financial Supervisory Authority);
5. the establishment of agreement on amendments to the Articles of Association of the Supervisory Authority (section 5 (3) of the Act Establishing the Federal Financial Supervisory Authority);
6. the hearing of formal agreements relating to cooperation between the Supervisory Authority and other institutions; agreements relating to cooperation and the exchange of information with other supervisory authorities shall remain unaffected.
7. (Repealed)

(2) In order for the Administrative Council to be able to perform its duties, the President shall inform it by way of regular reports on the management activities of the Supervisory Authority and the other members of the Executive Board shall inform it of their directorates’ activities. In this regard, the Administrative Council has a right to be informed and to be heard by every member of the Executive Board.

(3) The Administrative Council may demand a report on the affairs of the Supervisory Authority at any time from every member of the Executive Board. An individual member of the Administrative Council may also demand a report to the Administrative Council. If a member of the Executive Board refuses to report in this case, then the report can only be demanded if two other members of the Administrative Council support the demand.

Section 5
Representation of the Administrative Council

The Administrative Council is represented by the Chairperson and, if they are unable to perform their duties, by their deputy. Moreover, representation is only possible by the deputy appointed under section 3 (4) sentence 3, second half-sentence.

Section 6
Meetings of the Administrative Council

(1) The Administrative Council shall meet as the need arises, but at least once a year. The meetings are not public.
(2) The meetings of the Administrative Council are convened by the Chairperson or, if they are unable to perform their duties, by their deputy. The Administrative Council is to be convened on application by the Federal Ministry, the Executive Board or at least three members of the Administrative Council.
(3) The President and the Chief Executive Directors shall in principle take part in the meeting of the Administrative Council. In the event that they are not able to attend the meeting, the President shall be represented by a Chief Executive Director acting as Deputy President and the Chief Executive Directors shall be represented by a head of a department from their directorate. Without prejudice to the provisions of sentence 5, the Chairperson of the Staff Council or, if they are unable to attend, their deputy as well as a representative of the Deutsche Bundesbank have the right to attend the meetings. The Chairperson may invite other employees of the Supervisory Authority, external experts and other persons providing information if their attendance is appropriate. The attendance of employees of the Supervisory Authority and third parties may be barred for individual items on the agenda.

(4) The Administrative Council has a quorum if at least half its members are present, including at least one member of the Bundestag and at least one of the persons listed in section 7 (3) sentence 1 no. 2 (d) of the Act Establishing the Federal Financial Supervisory Authority. The Administrative Council’s resolutions require a simple majority of the votes cast. In the event of a tie, the Chairperson or their deputy shall have the casting vote. The details shall be governed by the rules of procedure. The rules of procedure shall in particular contain provisions relating to the convening of the Administrative Council, deliberations and the final adoption of resolutions.
(5) A member shall not have a right to vote if the resolution to be taken directly concerns the interests of a company to which the respective member maintains a legal relationship of the nature set out in section 3 (2) sentence 2. In cases of doubt, the Administrative Council shall, in the absence of the respective member, confer and decide whether this is the case.(6) Minutes shall be prepared on the results of the meetings and the course of the deliberations and shall be signed by the Chairman or his/her Deputy. The details shall be governed by the rules of procedure.

(6) Records shall be prepared on the results of the meetings and the course of the deliberations and shall be signed by the Chairperson or their deputy. The details shall be governed by the rules of procedure.
(7) In the case of section 4 (1) sentence 2 no. 1, the Administrative Council shall adopt a resolution within a period of two months after presentation. If no resolution is adopted within this period, then the budget presented by the Executive Board shall be deemed to have been adopted.

Section 7
Procedures

The Administrative Council may adopt resolutions in writing or by way of telecommunications. The details shall be governed by the rules of procedure.

Section 8
Advisory Board

(1) The Advisory Board shall elect a Chairperson from among its members and establish rules of procedure for the conduct of its meetings. The Advisory Board shall be convened as the need arises, at least once a year, by the Chairperson or, if they are unable to do so, by their deputy; to the extent that both are unable to perform their duties or have not yet been elected, the Advisory Board shall be convened by the Executive Board. The Advisory Board shall be convened on application by the Federal Ministry or the Executive Board. It shall also be convened on application by one quarter of its members. Each member of the Advisory Board has the right to submit proposals for deliberation. These are to be reported to the members of the Advisory Board prior to any decision as to the contents of the agenda and shall be deliberated if supported by four Advisory Board members. The President, the Chief Executive Directors and a representative of the Federal Ministry participate in the meetings of the Advisory Board. In the event that the President and the Chief Executive Directors are unable to attend, section 6 (3) sentence 2 applies mutatis mutandis. The meetings are not public. The Chairperson of the Advisory Board may invite external advisers to attend the meetings.
(2) The members shall be appointed by the Federal Ministry for a term of five years; they may be reappointed. The regulations of section 3 (3), (4) sentence 4 and (5) apply mutatis mutandis to the members of the Advisory Board. In the event that members are not able to attend, members may appoint deputies taking into account the right of nomination under (4). The Federal Ministry and the Chairperson of the Advisory Board are to be informed of this prior to the meeting.
(3) The President or, if they are unable to perform their duties, their deputy shall obtain oral commitments from the Advisory Board members and their deputies as well as external advisers that they will perform their duties conscientiously and maintain confidentiality. This commitment shall be recorded in writing. On reappointment reference to the previous commitment shall suffice.

(4) For the appointment of the members from the groups of companies specified in section 8 (2) sentence 3 of the Act Establishing the Federal Financial Supervisory Authority, the following associations have a right of nomination by name:

1. the Association of German Banks (Bundesverband deutscher Banken e.V.) for one representative from the banking industry;
2. the German Savings Banks Association (Deutscher Sparkassen- und Giroverband e.V.) for one representative from the banking industry;
3. the Association of German Cooperative Banks (Bundesverband der Volks- und Raiffeisenbanken e.V.) for one representative from the banking industry;
4. the Association of Foreign Banks in Germany (Verband der Auslandsbanken e.V.) for one representative of the banking industry;
5. the Association of German Public Sector Banks (Bundesverband Öffentlicher Banken Deutschlands e.V.) for one representative of the banking industry;
6. the Association of German PfandbriefBanks (Verband deutscher Pfandbriefbanken e.V.) in consultation with the Association of Private Bausparkassen (Verband der Privaten Bausparkassen e.V.) and the Association of Public German Bausparkassen (Bundesgeschäftsstelle der Landesbausparkassen) for one representative of the banking industry;
7. the German Investment Funds Association (Bundesverband Investment und Asset Management e.V.) for one representative of the asset management companies and the financial services institutions;
8. the German Insurance Association (Gesamtverband der Deutschen Versicherungswirtschaft e.V.) for four representative of the insurance industry;
9. the Association of Private Health Insurance Companies (Verband der privaten Krankenversicherung e.V.) for one representative;
10. the Association of Company Pension Funds (Arbeitsgemeinschaft für betriebliche Altersversorgung e.V.) for one representative.

In addition, the Advisory Board shall comprise three members from academia, in particular from the bankingmanagement and insurance business management fields, as well as scientific associations, three representatives of consumer protection organisations, one representative of the Deutsche Bundesbank and one representative each from the independent professions, the associations of small and medium-sized companies, the trade unions and one representative of industry. A simultaneous membership on other boards of the Supervisory Authority is possible.
(5) The President of the Supervisory Authority shall inform the Advisory Board by way of regular reports, at least once a year, about current supervisory issues.

(6) On application by the Executive Board, the Federal Ministry of Finance or at least one quarter of its members, the Advisory Board may make recommendations on specialist matters to the Supervisory Authority. This shall require that more than half of the members of the Advisory Board support such recommendation. In deliberations about aspects of cooperation between the Supervisory Authority and the Deutsche Bundesbank the representative of the Deutsche Bundesbank shall not have a voting right.
(7) Minutes shall be prepared on the results of the meeting and the course of the deliberations and shall be signed by the Chairperson or their deputy. The details are governed by the rules of procedure.

Section 8a
Consumer Advisory Council

(1) The Federal Ministry shall appoint the following members of the Consumer Advisory Council:

1. three representatives from academia who engage to a significant extent in research in the field of consumer or investor protection;
2. four representatives from consumer and investor protection organisations;
3. three representatives from out-of-court dispute resolution entities;
4. one representative from the Federal Ministry of Justice and Consumer Protection (Bundesministeriums der Justiz und für Verbraucherschutz); and
5. one representative from trade unions.

Gambling Supervision Authority Germany International

A simultaneous membership in other boards of the Supervisory Authority is possible.

(2) The President of the Supervisory Authority shall inform the Consumer Advisory Council by way of regular reports, at least once a year, about current consumer and investor protection matters related to financial services.

(3) On application by the Executive Board, the Federal Ministry or at least one quarter of its members, the Consumer Advisory Council may make recommendations on consumer or investor protection matters to the Supervisory Authority. This shall require that more than half of the members of the Consumer Advisory Council support such recommendation.

(4) The provisions of section 8 (1) to (3) and (7) shall apply mutatis mutandis.

Part III
Budgetary management

Section 9
Budget

(1) The budget shall be prepared pursuant to the principles of sections 105 to 112 of the Federal BudgetCode (Bundeshaushaltsordnung).
(2) The Executive Board shall submit the following to the Administrative Council:

1. as of 31 March each year, supporting documents for the funds actually utilised in the past financial year;
2. as of 1 September each year at the latest, the draft budget for the following financial year.

Each of these deadlines may be prolonged on application by the Executive Board by up to one month. The Federal Ministry shall determine, subject to statutory requirements, the time when the budget shall be prepared and presented.
(3) Measures of material or substantial financial importance as well as entering into liabilities for which the budget contains no authorisation require the approval of the Administrative Council.
(4) (Repealed)

Section 10
Budgetary management

(1) The financial year of the Supervisory Authority corresponds to the calendar year.
(2) Budgetary management and the rendering of accounts are subject to the regulations of the Federal BudgetCode. The books shall be established and kept in compliance with the principles of the Federal BudgetCode. Payments in the administrative sector shall be made via the bank account of the Supervisory Authority. Within three months of the end of the financial year the Executive Board shall prepare annual accounts of actual revenues and expenditure in compliance with the federal provisions governing the rendering of accounts, which shall be presented to the Administrative Council.
(3) The annual accounts are to be audited, without prejudice to the audit carried out by the Federal Court of Audit under section 111 of the Federal BudgetCode, by an auditor, whereby a different auditor is to be mandated by invitation to tender by the Executive Board in consultation with the Federal Ministry at least every four years; the Federal Ministry shall act in agreement with the Federal Court of Audit. Auditors may be public accountants or accountancy firms. The Executive Board shall present the annual accounts and the auditor’s report to the Federal Court of Audit. The Federal Court of Audit informs the Administrative Council on any findings that are of relevance to the decision on the formal approval of the actions of the Executive Board.

Part IV
Transfer of rights and duties, publication

Section 11
Transfer of rights and duties

The administrative agreements entered into by the Federal Ministry with the Federal Banking and Insurance Supervisory Offices, in particular relating to property management, the ITService Centre and the exchange of staff, shall be transferred to the Supervisory Authority with the same rights and duties unless specified otherwise. The Administrative Council shall be informed of these administrative agreements.

Section 12
Publication of the Statutes

These Statutes and any amendments thereto shall be published in the publications of the Supervisory Authority.

Gambling Supervision Authority Germany Immigration

Additional information

Did you find this article helpful?

Ardalan Shekarabi is Minister for Social Security from October 1, 2019

Published

The Government today adopted the Bill ‘A re-regulated gambling market’. The proposal will mean introducing a new gambling act and a licence system.

'Unregulated gambling has taken over and gambling is used in criminal activities. It is 14 years since the first of a line of gambling inquiries was appointed. It is now time for us to move from words to action and regain control of the Swedish gambling market,' says Minister for Public Administration Ardalan Shekarabi.

The gambling act now being proposed will mean that anyone operating in the Swedish gambling market must have an authorised licence and that operators without a licence will be shut out. There must be stronger consumer protection in place for gambling, and the negative effects of gambling must be limited. A new offence, gambling fraud, will be introduced and a special cooperation council will be established to tackle match fixing.

Gambling Supervision Authority Germany Official

The gambling market will be divided up into sectors: a competitive sector, primarily including online gambling and betting; a sector reserved for non-profit purposes, primarily including lotteries and bingo; and a sector reserved for the central government, primarily including state-owned casinos and gambling on token machines. Gambling subject to licensing will be taxed at 18 per cent. Gambling for non-profit purposes will continue to be tax exempt. Winnings will be taxed when players win money on unlicensed gambling websites.

'We are reinforcing the Swedish Gambling Authority, granting it more and sharper tools. Unlicensed operators will be shut out of the market and licence-holders must conduct their activities in accordance with the law. Today we are also instructing the Swedish Agency for Public Management to follow up the reform to quickly make any amendments to the act if the goals of the reform are not achieved,' says Mr Shekarabi.

Further proposals in the Bill:

• Licensed operators must have a comprehensive duty to protect gamblers from excessive gambling.
• Strict requirements for moderation in marketing gambling will apply.
• Gamblers must be able to bar themselves from all gambling, and bonuses will not be permitted at any time other than the first gambling occasion.
• The possibility of blocking payment transactions between gamblers and unlicensed gambling operators will be introduced to ensure unlicensed operators are shut out of the market.
• The Swedish Gambling Authority will also be able to order internet service providers to set up warning messages for websites offering unlicensed gambling.
• Promoting gambling without a licence, for example through advertising, will be criminalised.

It is proposed that the new regulations enter into force on 1 January 2019.

Press contact