gambling
Number of player bans more than quadrupled since 2020
People entered in the blocking file are denied access to casinos, casinos or arcades, among other things. photo
© Sina Schuldt/dpa
The rapidly increasing number “speaks volumes”, according to the federal government’s addiction commissioner. Since the majority let themselves be blocked, the suffering of many gambling addicts must be very great.
The number of people addicted to gambling who have entered themselves in the national player ban file or who have had relatives do so has more than quadrupled in the past two and a half years. This emerges from data from the Oasis lock file, as reported by the editorial network Germany. According to this, around 192,600 people were registered there at the beginning of May, including more than 9,000 who were registered there at the request of others. According to the report, at the end of 2020 there were still 47,000 bans.
“The high number of player bans speaks volumes,” said the federal government’s addiction and drug commissioner, Burkhard Blienert (SPD), the RND. It shows that gambling addiction really gets to the heart of the problem for the gambling addict and those around them. “Since the vast majority can be blocked themselves, the suffering must be considerable for many people and also the insight that they have to do something themselves.”
People entered in the blocking file are denied access to casinos, casinos or arcades in accordance with the applicable regulations. Slot machines, sports betting, online casinos or poker are also taboo. According to the State Treaty on Gambling, all providers are obliged to query the database before a player participates. The ban can be initiated by yourself or by third parties who are close to the player, such as family members or partners. The application can be made if there are indications of gambling addiction or debt.