Germany’s schizoid approach to online casino regulation has resulted in criminal complaints filed against three operators, including GVC Holdings’ Bwin brand.

On Tuesday, German media outlets NDR and Süddeutscher Zeitung reported that the Hamburg Ministry of the Interior & Sport had filed complaints with the state’s public prosecutor against Bwin, German operator Tipico and IBA Entertainment’s Malta-licensed Bet3000 brand. The complaints reportedly center on the operators’ online casino offering.

Germany’s 16 states have agreed on a new online gambling framework that will allow online casino and poker products in addition to sports betting as of July 1, 2021. But there is sharp difference among the states as to what approach should be taken against online casino operators who continue to accept German customers before the new regime takes effect.

Earlier this week, regulators in the state of Hesse signaled a truce with German-facing online casino operators, agreeing to take “no enforcement measures” against operators ahead of the regulated market’s launch. But states such as Hamburg, Saarland and Lower Saxony have shown little interest in tolerating activity they view as currently illegal, regardless of what the future holds.