Germany’s new online casino ‘toleration’ policies will bite deep into UK gambling operator GVC Holdings’ earnings next year, as German sports betting operators warn the government to seek ‘achievable’ goals.

On Thursday, GVC warned investors that Germany’s ‘transitional tolerance policy’ for online gambling operators wasn’t likely to have a material impact on its 2020 earnings. However, next year’s earnings will likely be around €70m below the company’s previous expectations.

Germany’s 16 states announced last month that German-facing online gambling operators wouldn’t face legal punishment for offering online casino products, provided they implemented the rules of the new federal gambling treaty now, rather than wait for the scheduled July 1, 2021 date by which the treaty will take effect.

This toleration policy was always a bit murky, but GVC helpfully spelled out its understanding of its obligations going forward. As of October 15, online casino table games must be switched off until individual states issue the necessary licenses. There are also limits on the types of in-play sports betting markets operators can offer.