A Gibraltar-based provider of online gambling has the Koblenz district court prohibited the activity in this country. He was not allowed to offer people in Germany his bets aimed at the outcome of state lotteries, nor advertise on the Internet, by mail or television spots, the court ruled in a ruling published on Friday (Ref .: 15 O 184/17). There was thus the lawsuit of Lotto Rheinland-Pfalz instead, the lottery company saw itself brought to revenue.

At the convicted bidder, players were able to tap on the outcome of the draw of the lotteries "6 out of 49", Euro jackpot and lucky spiral. The winners were those who typed the numbers drawn by the state lotteries - but did not participate directly in these state lotteries. Rather, another company from Gibraltar determined the odds and calculated the profits.

The defendant did not have permission from a German authority "for the organization or mediation of games of chance," stressed the court. Online gambling is fast, easy and unlimited in time available. There lacking social control, the anonymous and isolated games favor the development of gambling addiction in particular. The verdict is not yet legally binding. According to the information, the defendant has announced that it will appeal.

LOTTO RHEINLAND-PFALZ REPORTS BALANCE SHEET PROFIT FOR THE YEAR 2017

Nearly 1.2 million euros surplus in 2017 
• Around 6.9 percent decline in turnover 
• Every day 321,000 euros for the state of Rhineland-Palatinate 
• More than 200 million euros distributed to winners 

With a turnover of around 363 million euros and a surplus of Lotto Rheinland-Pfalz closed 2017 at almost 1.2 million euros. This was announced by the company during a balance sheet press conference.

"Although 2017 has brought us a drop in sales of 6.9 percent compared to the previous year, we can still be satisfied with the balance sheet of the year," summarized Lotto CEO Jürgen Häfner, explaining: "The drop in sales was not a Rhineland-Palatinate phenomenon, but a nationwide development. "So there were less high jackpots in 2017, which usually lead to higher stakes - both in the classic lottery 6aus49 and the Euro Jackpot. 
The situation is completely different in the current financial year 2018, which has led to a current sales increase of more than three percent with two longer jackpot phases in the lottery Eurojackpot.

The gaming company achieved a lot of positives in 2017, including the successful launch of the new year-end lottery New Year's Million, with 250,000 lots sold off the stand. 

In addition, Lotto Rheinland-Pfalz has been able to complete a more than solid year and produce a decent balance sheet through economical and prudent management, motivated employees and strong products. The Chairman of the Supervisory Board, Finance Secretary Dr. Stephan Weinberg: "In a demanding market environment, the company has distributed over 200 million euros to lucky winners. The state of Rhineland-Palatinate has received more than € 117 million in taxes and charges that will benefit the common good. "

Also for the game participants 2017 was successful. A total of five Tipperers became millionaires. The largest amount of money with over 50 million euros - and thus the highest lottery prize in Rhineland-Palatinate history - secured a Euro jackpot player from the Palatinate. "We are delighted that last year we were able to congratulate a total of 49 players who have won 100,000 euros or more," said Managing Director Häfner. 

The winners were not only the players and the country, but also many public welfare organizations in Rhineland-Palatinate. From the proceeds of the lotteries GlücksSpirale, Sieger-Chance and BINGO flowed! a total of around 4.6 million euros directly to numerous beneficiaries.

These are in the GlücksSpirale in addition to representatives from the sport (German Olympic Sports Association, Foundation German Sporthilfe, Landessportbund Rhein-land-Pfalz and Foundation Sporthilfe Rheinland-Pfalz) the Federal Working Group of the Free Welfare, the German Foundation for Monument Protection, the Foundation Nature and Environment Rhineland-Palatinate and the Landesmusikrat Rheinland-Pfalz. At BINGO! in addition to the Nature and Environment Foundation, the Development Country Network (ELAN). 

"It is this social commitment that sets Lotto Rhein-land-Pfalz clearly apart from its private competitors," Dr. Weinberg the four-sounding of the company as a partner of sport, promoter of culture and supporters of social initiatives and environmental projects.

Nevertheless, the company is also facing major challenges, as illegal gambling providers from abroad are causing problems for state lottery companies. "Without the consumers noticing at first glance, companies like Lottoland, Tipp24 or Lottohelden offer bets on the German Lotto or Euro Jackpot on the internet. It looks like you are legally participating in the government offer - but this is not the case, "Dr. Vineyard out. "These providers," said the chairman of the supervisory board, "are in tax havens and do not pay a cent of taxes and duties for the common good." 

He appealed to the other Länder to revise the State Treaty on Gambling so that legal certainty prevails in this area and the lottery monopoly remains secure.

Terrestrial distribution via the approximately 940 Lotto retail outlets was also the heart of the company last year. More than 90 percent of the stakes were scored there. "We are the largest chain store in Rhineland-Palatinate and represented in every fourth local community," said CEO Jürgen Häfner: "Thus our company also fulfills an enormously important structural policy mandate." 

In order to remain competitive in the steadily growing electronic market was Lotto Rheinland-Pfalz, but also successful on the Internet: The use of gaming in this area last year was over 19 million euros, the highest value since the company also offers its games online.

The Lotto Rhineland-Palatinate Foundation, which celebrated its tenth anniversary last year, also has a very positive track record: it was once again able to fund over 1,000 charitable projects with a total of around 1.2 million euros. 

Lotto Rheinland-Pfalz lives up to its social responsibility in a different way as well: The annual fundraising campaign for the Lotto initiative "Kinderglück" under the patronage of Prime Minister Malu Dreyer earns a lot of money every year for disadvantaged children. In 2017, more than 154,000 euros were raised for projects against child poverty in Rhineland-Palatinate and since 2007 more than 1.7 million euros have been generated in donations for needy children.

After the anniversary year 2018, when the company celebrated its 70th birthday, Lotto Rheinland-Pfalz can look forward to further challenges in the coming years. On the one hand, the fight against the illegal providers will continue with all consequence and the balance between tradition and modernity will continue. 

In addition, the company will take over the lead in the German Lotto and Toto-Block (DLTB) from 2019 for three years. "This is a great vote of confidence for the entire company," congratulated the Chairman of the Supervisory Board. Weinberg added: "I am sure that Lotto Rheinland-Pfalz will be a good ambassador for the German lottery companies for three years."

https://www.lotto-rlp.de/presse/meldungen/pressdetail_06876?gbn=6