10 Years of Partnership: DFL and Tipico Extend Partnership Until 2029

/in , , /by
  • Tipico Remains Official Partner of the Bundesliga and 2. Bundesliga
  • Tipico Continues to Feature Logos and Championship Trophy in Advertising
  • Sponsorship Plays a Key Role in Supporting Legal Market

Tipico, Germany’s leading sports betting provider, will continue as the Official Partner of the Bundesliga and 2. Bundesliga. Before the end of the current agreement, Tipico and the DFL (Deutsche Fußball Liga) have agreed to extend their partnership, which began in 2018, through to the end of the 2028/29 season.

As part of this agreement, Tipico will continue to use the logos of both competitions and the two Meisterschalen (championship trophies) in its advertising. The company will also retain its extensive advertising rights, including first-access rights included in DFL’s media contracts, as well as a “Matching Offer Right” for all special advertising formats with national partners, and exclusivity within the industry. Tipico will also be integrated into digital Bundesliga platforms.

“We’re thrilled to extend this long-standing collaboration built on mutual trust. Over the years, Tipico has proven itself as a highly professional and reliable partner with a deep passion for football,” said Tobias Thöne, Director of Commercial Partnerships at Bundesliga International GmbH.

Kajetan Strini-Brown, Director of Sports Brand at Tipico, said: “We’re incredibly proud to continue our partnership with the Bundesliga and 2. Bundesliga! German football is at the heart of what we do, and that passion has always been deeply embedded in our DNA as a company. This extension is a key part of our strategic partnerships, which also include the DFB-Pokal, another major German football brand. Sponsorship, and the visibility it brings, plays an important role in guiding customers to the legal market.”

As outlined in the State Treaty on Gambling, the possibility to promote sports betting is an essential tool for guiding the deeply human drive to gamble into regulated and monitored channels. This plays a critical role in ensuring proper regulation of sports betting while counteracting illegal offerings. For more than 20 years, Tipico has been offering innovative, user-friendly, and secure sports betting products and has become the most popular brand for sports betting in Germany. In addition to continuous product development, Tipico has been working on modern player protection strategies for the last 15 years. The DFL has also long been committed to preventing match-fixing and gambling addiction in German professional football.

Tipico Welcomes ECJ’s Review of “Refund Claim” Business Model in Sports Betting

/in , /by
  • Erfurt Regional Court Asks European Court of Justice for Further Clarification
  • It’s clear: Refund claims are a matter of EU law and will be decided by the ECJ
  • Tipico: “We’re confident that, as in the past, the ECJ will rule in our favor.”


Tipico, Germany’s leading sports betting provider, welcomes that Erfurt Regional Court (LG Erfurt) has referred additional questions to the European Court of Justice (ECJ) regarding the admissibility of refund claims in online sports betting (Case No. 8 O 515/24). Following the Federal Court of Justice (BGH) referring the matter to the ECJ in July 2024, now another German court is asking the ECJ to clarify key issues related to the player lawsuits.

Clear Rejection of the “Refund Claim” Business Model

Currently 20 referral questions regarding the matter are awaiting clarification by the ECJ. Despite this, specialised litigation firms and litigation funders continue to lure players into their business model, promising unrealistic chances of success while falsely claiming that the relevant legal questions have already been definitively resolved in their favor.

The Federal Court of Justice (BGH) had already rejected this view in July 2024 with its referral to the ECJ (ECJ: C-530/24). The recent decision by the Erfurt Regional Court to submit six additional clarifying questions to the ECJ once again makes it clear that the ECJ will have the final say on this matter.

The plaintiffs’ side has attempted to prevent further referrals to the ECJ through motions for bias or venue changes in many cases nationwide. However, despite such delay tactics, the referral to the ECJ is proceeding and will contribute to a comprehensive clarification of the legal situation.

ECJ to Answer Six Additional Questions

The initial referral question from the Federal Court of Justice (BGH) primarily concerned the impact of the ECJ ruling from 2016 in the “Ince” case (C-336/14 – Ince). It seeks to clarify whether that ruling also applies to civil proceedings, such as the present case, in order to maintain the consistency of the legal system.

The Erfurt Regional Court goes much further in its inquiry. The questions focus on the compatibility with the applicable substantive law at the time and delve into the legal situation surrounding sports betting in Germany as an EU member state between 2012 and 2019. The need for clarification in this regard had already been indirectly confirmed by the BGH, which had suspended similar cases involving substantive legal violations.

Matthias Folkmann, spokesperson for the Tipico Group, says: “We welcome the approach taken by the Erfurt Regional Court. It is important that, alongside the BGH, lower courts also refer additional questions to the ECJ, so that the legal situation can be fully clarified and legal certainty can be established. We look forward to this clarification from the ECJ with confidence, as we are sure that the ECJ will rule in our favor, as it did in the past. These ongoing referrals remove the basis for a business model which intrumentalises credulous players.”

* The referral decision by the Erfurt Regional Court, along with a legal analysis of the referral questions by Dr. Ronald Reichert, Tipico’s legal representative, can be found here.

** For more information on the ECJ referral by the BGH in July 2024, please refer to our related press release here.

Tipico and NOVOMATIC Sign Agreement for Acquisition of ADMIRAL Austria

/in , /by
  • Tipico Group strengthens its position in Austria
  • Novomatic AG focus on international growth markets

St. Julian’s/Karlsruhe/Gumpoldskirchen. Today, Tipico Group, the leading sports betting provider in the German-speaking region, has signed an agreement with NOVOMATIC AG to acquire a 100% stake in ATLAS Group GmbH, the parent company of ADMIRAL Group in Austria.

For Tipico Group — Germany’s leading provider of sports betting and online slot games — this investment marks an important step toward further strengthening its position in Austria and expanding its portfolio. The NOVOMATIC AG Group confirms this as a step increasing the focus on its international business orientation as a global innovation leader in the industry.

Axel Hefer, CEO of Tipico Group, says: “This agreement is an important milestone in Tipico’s expansion strategy to further broaden our leading role in the German-speaking market and strengthen our position in Austria. For 20 years, Tipico has stood for state-of-the-art technology, innovative products, and consumer protection. We are pleased to have found in the ADMIRAL Group a partner who shares these same values. We look forward to a successful future in the Austrian sports betting and gaming market.”

Stefan Krenn, Member of the Executive Board at NOVOMATIC AG, says: “We have decided to sell the ADMIRAL Group in Austria in order to focus on international growth markets and drive further global expansion. In Tipico, we found a highly professional and reliable partner who will continue to operate ADMIRAL in Austria successfully and sustainably.”

The agreement is subject to certain conditions such as regulatory approvals.

Tipico Receives Permission for Online Casino Games in Schleswig-Holstein

/in , , /by

Tipico, the leading German sports betting provider and online gambling operator, has received permission from the Ministry of the Interior of Schleswig-Holstein to offer and conduct online casino games in the state. This is the first time such a permission has been granted to private operators in Germany. Tipico is thus the first provider—together with three other companies—to receive this permission. The state of Schleswig-Holstein aims to fulfill its mandate from the Interstate Treaty on Gambling (Glücksspielstaatsvertrag) to direct any gambling into legal avenues. The permission is valid for 15 years.

“Receiving this permission is a great vote of confidence and underscores our pioneering role in consumer protection and technological leadership,” says Jochen Weiner, Director Compliance at Tipico. “It affirms our high standards in the development, implementation, and control of protective measures, and shows the trust in our ability to offer attractive, regulated products.”

“By allowing an attractive online offering, we aim to prevent players from turning to illegal options when they wish to play games known from casinos online, thereby strengthening legal gambling,” said Schleswig-Holstein’s Minister of the Interior, Sabine Sütterlin-Waack, in a press release from her ministry.

In October 2020, Tipico was also among the first providers to receive official permission to conduct sports betting in Germany. Additionally, Tipico offers virtual slot games under the “Tipico Games” brand. The new permission enables Tipico to offer casino classics like roulette and blackjack in Schleswig-Holstein in the future.

Referral to ECJ: BGH Suspends Further Sports Betting Proceedings

/in , /by
  • ECJ is crucial for assessing the European legal situation
  • Decision also impacts other cases
  • ECJ previously ruled in favor of providers in the “Ince” case
  • Lack of license cannot be held against providers

Tipico welcomes the decision made by the German Federal Court of Justice (BGH) on July 25, 2024 [in case I ZR 90/23] to refer key questions regarding sports betting offerings before the current German gambling regulation to the European Court of Justice (ECJ).

The BGH has followed Tipico’s argument that these cases cannot be resolved without referral to the ECJ. Tipico also welcomes the BGH’s decision to suspend proceedings in another sports betting case (I ZR 12/24) which involve alleged violations of requirements related to online offerings (e.g., the €1,000 limit), until the ECJ reaches a final ruling. The court has now made it clear that the ECJ’s decision could also impact these cases. Tipico expects that requirements concerning online distribution will no longer apply if the ECJ confirms Tipico’s legal standpoint.

Tipico is very confident that the ECJ will once again rule in favor of providers, as it has done multiple times before, most recently in 2016 in the “Ince” case (C-336/14 – Ince). In this case, the ECJ clarified in a criminal proceeding that the absence of a German license, due to the unlawful nature of the licensing process under EU law at the time, cannot be held against providers licensed in the EU. What is not prohibited under EU law in criminal and administrative matters cannot be prohibited in civil matters either, as the unity of legal order also applies under EU law.

Matthias Folkmann, Head of Corporate Communications at Tipico, says: “We welcome the BGH’s decision to align with our legal opinion and to refer the case to the ECJ for clarification. As a company, we have always operated legally, and courts have repeatedly confirmed this over the past two decades. Therefore, we see no reason why the ECJ would not maintain its previous stance and rule in our favor. However, there are law firms that continue to deliberately mislead players and encourage them to file lawsuits or assign claims based on unfounded promises of success.”

Tipico Group Ltd. announces agreement to sell its U.S. Sportsbook and Online Casino platform

/in , /by
  • Tipico announces agreement to sell its award-winning U.S. platform
  • Tipico will wind down its U.S. operations
  • Transaction is subject to regulatory and customary approvals

Tipico Group Ltd. today announced that it has entered into an agreement to sell its product and technology platform constituting the U.S sportsbook and online casino to LeoVegas Group, part of MGM Resorts International. Tipico will wind down its U.S. operations prior to the closing of the acquisition. As part of the transaction, LeoVegas will acquire certain of Tipico U.S. management, technology and trading teams across the US, Colombia, and Europe.

“For five years Tipico Group has heavily invested in the creation of its own proprietary sports betting and gaming platform for the U.S., working with some of the best talent to achieve excellence. On behalf of the board of Tipico Group I want to thank the teams in our U.S. operations for the last years of dedication, innovation and passion, that made our U.S. sportsbook and Online Casino platform the attractive venture it is today.”, says Joachim Baca, CEO of Tipico Group.

Adrian Vella, CEO of Tipico U.S. adds: “After an exciting journey of constant development, progress and unwavering belief in creating an excellent product offering, today marks the start of a new interesting chapter! Tipico has proven in one of the most competitive markets in the world that we can build proprietary technological solutions, whilst running sophisticated lean operations. Our rise from a start-up to an award-winning platform makes me very proud and I want to thank all my team, who made this story possible!”

Moelis & Company acted as exclusive financial advisor to Tipico Group Ltd. on this transaction.

The transaction is subject to regulatory and customary approvals and is expected to be completed in the third quarter of 2024.

Tipico Euro-Barometer – Preliminary Round Update: German Team Moves Further into the Group of Favorites

/in , /by
  • Germany Catches Up with France, England Slightly Behind
  • Tipico Odds Also See Spain and Portugal Rising
  • Italy and Netherlands Decline
  • Germany Confident Ahead of Match Against Switzerland

The term “Summer Fairytale” gets mentioned increasingly: Following a dominant 5:1 victory against Scotland and a win against Hungary, optimism for the German team is growing. Consequently, the odds for Germany have risen to 5.0 – implying a predicted win probability of 20 percent – now equal to France, which still has to play its second game against the Netherlands; the current odds here are 2.30 for a French win.

For the upcoming game between Switzerland and Germany on Sunday, the odds are 1.67 for a German win. It is also clear to Tipico bookmakers that Germany will score the first goal in this match, with odds at 1.52 and Niclas Füllkrug being the most likely scorer for this lead. The bookmakers have little doubt that the Germans will win their Group A, with the odds at 1.16.

Spain Advancing, Victories for Turkey and Romania

Germany and Spain are the only two teams that have so far achieved maximum points, after “La Roja” narrowly, but convincingly, defeated the reigning European champions Italy. Additionally, Turkey beat Georgia in an exciting game with a score of 3:1, and Romania convincingly defeated Ukraine with a score of 3:0. Turkey will face Portugal this Saturday. For this match, the odds favor Portugal at 1.57, unlike the Turkey vs. Czech Republic game where the odds favor Turkey.

Musiala Leads the Scorer Rankings

The Bayern Munich striker continues to impress and has scored for the second consecutive time, making him the only player in the tournament with two goals so far. Musiala’s odds in the race for the top scorer title stand at 9.0. Tipico also offers a combination bet for the most optimistic: a bet on Germany winning the European Championship and Jamal Musiala becoming the top scorer at odds of 20.0.

For more information and all about EM betting with Tipico: Tipico EM 2024 Betting Tips

Axel Hefer new CEO of Tipico

/in , /by

Tipico Group, the leading German sports betting provider, appoints Axel Hefer as Chief Executive Officer (CEO). Axel Hefer, who previously served as Chief Operating Officer (COO) at Tipico, succeeds Joachim Baca. After eight successful years at the helm of the company, Joachim Baca takes over as Chairman of the Supervisory Board.

Under Joachim Baca’s leadership, Tipico has become the undisputed market leader for sports betting in Germany. At the same time the company has established itself as an innovative tech company, setting new standards in terms of product and technology. During this period, Tipico not only experienced strong growth but also developed a recognized brand, implemented modern compliance structures, and was one of the first providers to receive the German sports betting license. Moreover, the company was able to strengthen consumer protection – based on a scientifically sound player protection concept.

As the new CEO, Axel Hefer aims to further enhance Tipico’s product excellence and technology leadership and further drive innovation  to further strengthen Tipico Group’s market-leading position and foster further sustainable growth in a rapidly evolving market environment.

Daniel Pindur, Managing Partner of CVC and former Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Tipico Group, said, “Over the past eight years, Joachim has done a remarkable job in advancing the development  of Tipico and establishing it as an international sports betting and technology company. We are grateful for his outstanding contributions and are pleased that he will continue to play a key role as Chairman of the Supervisory Board. At the same time, we are delighted to have Axel as an experienced strategist and manager on board with Tipico. In his role as COO, Axel has proven he has the capabilities and vision to continue Tipico’s successful trajectory. We look forward to working together.”

Axel Hefer, CEO of Tipico Group, said, ”In recent years, Tipico has evolved from a startup to the definitive market and technology leader in sports betting in Germany. I am eager to continue this success story with the Tipico team and the owners. Together we are committed to providing sports fans with the best and most secure betting experience, extending our market leadership, and achieving additional sustainable growth.”

Joachim Baca, outgoing CEO and incoming Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Tipico Group, said, “Leading Tipico on its strong growth path, building structures and expanding the product portfolio has been a great privilege. We have thus set the stage for a prosperous future. I am proud of our collective accomplishments and look forward to remaining a part of the team and continuing to contribute to the ongoing success as Chairman of the Supervisory Board. I would like to express my gratitude to all my colleagues and the owners of Tipico for their trust and the exceptional collaboration.”

Axel Hefer was appointed Chief Operating Officer of Tipico Group in November 2023. In his role as COO, he focused on optimizing structures and processes across the group. He also has extensive experience in advancing dynamic digital companies, particularly in complex environments. Prior to joining Tipico’s Management Board, Axel Hefer spent several years as a successful manager in major German technology companies: most recently as a long-standing member of the Management Board of the travel search engine Trivago and before that as a member of the Management Board of the German online furniture retailer Home24. He gained extensive experience in the private equity sector as Managing Director of One Equity Partners and as Investment Director at Permira Beteiligungs GmbH. Axel started his career as a management consultant at McKinsey in the early 2000s.

 

Tipico UEFA Euro Barometer: Summer Fairytale 2024? The chances are rising!

/in , /by
  • Three-way battle for the title: France catches up with England as favorite
  • Tipico odds see the German team strongly rising
  • Germany is already the favorite for highest-scoring team of the tournament

The Summer Fairytale 2024 for Germany’s national team could still happen: What was once a duel is gradually turning into a triad! Following France’s victory over Austria and England’s average performance against Serbia, the favorites are shifting. With odds of 4.7 (previously 5), France catches up with England at 4.7 (previously 4.5). Closely followed by Germany: The hosts began the tournament with an impressive 5:1 victory over Scotland, celebrating the highest victory of a team in an opening match of a European Championship (previous record: 0:3 Turkey against Italy, UEFA EURO 2020). Moreover, this strong performance is also reflected in the odds for a German tournament victory: Tipico adjusts odds from 6.3 to 5.5!

Germany vs Hungary: 80% probability of win for Germany

The German team enters the match against Hungary as the clear favorite with odds of 1.25. Betting odds again predict a high-scoring game: The odds for three or more goals for Germany are at (1.9). It seems certain that goals will be scored in both halves: The odds for this are at (1.45). And who scores the first goal? Kai Havertz is at the forefront with odds of (4.5), followed by Jamal Musiala (6) and Florian Wirtz (6.5).

Goals Galore 

Bettors who wagered on many goals in the first group matches had the better outcome for themselves. While the bookmakers had expected a subdued start, the actual average number of goals per game was quite high. At the European Championship 2024, a goal has been scored every 33 minutes so far, that’s 2.7 goals per game. For comparison: At EURO 2020, the average goals scored throughout the event was 2.78 and at EURO 2016 only 2.12.

Moreover, the fastest goal in a European Championship has been scored! Albania’s Nadim Bajrami struck after 23 seconds to lead his team 1:0 against the reigning European champions Italy. The previous record was 67 seconds. At the 2004 EC, Dimitri Kirichenko (Russia) scored against Greece.

More goals mean more excitement. Following the five goals on Friday, Germany is the favorite for the title of the highest-scoring team of the tournament (2.2). All top German scorers scored on Friday, meaning that Havertz (13), Wirtz (18), and Füllkrug (20) now have better chances to finish the tournament as top scorers.

For more information and everything about EM betting from Tipico: https://www.tipico.de/wett-tipps/em-2024

Betting Odds: Will England Win the European Championship? France and Germany Waiting for their Chance!

/in , /by
  • Top Favorite for the Title is England – France and Germany Close Behind
  • Can Nagelsmann’s Squad Write a New Summer Fairytale?
  • Kylian Mbappé and Harry Kane Favorites for Top Scorer
  • Kai Havertz on Shared Sixth Place

Can coach Julian Nagelsmann lead the German team to the final in their home European Championship? The excitement among players and fans is rising as the European Football Championship starts tomorrow – and in their own country! The current betting odds at Tipico, the leading provider of sports betting in Germany, already give exciting insights into who might have the upper hand at the football festival, from June 14th onwards, before the first whistle sounds.

In addition to the classic single match bets, bets can also be placed on the group tables, the tournament winner, the exact final pairing, the top scorer, the top scorers of the respective teams and much more.

Here are the most exciting trends:

England as Top Favorite, France and Germany Play at the Top

A pleasant surprise: After three disappointing tournaments in a row, the betting odds see the DFB team as a co-favorite, and this trend has become stronger in recent weeks. Coach Julian Nagelsmann’s team is unbeaten in 2024 and has even been able to beat France and the Netherlands in preparation. The home advantage and the euphoria in their own country could catapult the hosts to the top.

The Tipico bookmakers currently see the German national team in a strong third place with betting odds of 6.30 – the favorite is England (4.50) with Bayern striker Harry Kane, followed by runner-up world champion France (5.00): The team around superstar Kylian Mbappé was eliminated in the quarterfinals of the 2021 European Championship and is eager to make amends. Current European champion Italy, on the other hand, is only in 6th place with a current odds of 15.00, behind Spain (8.50) and Portugal (7.50), with the team around veteran star Cristiano Ronaldo having recently significantly increased its chances. Belgium and the Netherlands complete the circle of further favorites with a odds of 18.00 for the tournament victory. Underdog? Neighboring Austria, which remains a clear underdog with a odds of 65, but Ralf Rangnick’s team has worked its way up further and further in recent weeks with strong performances. At the bottom of the field are the outsiders Slovenia (300), Albania (350), Slovakia (400) and Georgia (500), whose elimination in the preliminary round seems almost predetermined.

Group Winners and Knockout Rounds

Before the European champion is determined in Berlin’s Olympic Stadium on July 14, the focus is on the group phase and the knockout rounds. In Group A, there should be no worries – at least according to Tipico: The German team is almost guaranteed to advance to the round of 16 with a odds of 1.03. A German group victory has a odds of 1.35. The chances of winning for Switzerland (6.50), Hungary (8.00) and bottom side Scotland (11.00) are already significantly lower. A German victory in the opening match is important to ignite football enthusiasm – and the chances against outsider Scotland are very good with a current odds of 1.27.

“The European Championship in Germany promises to be very exciting. There are quite a few favorites, so anything is possible during the tournament. However, the German team is a very attractive tip with odds of 6.30! We’re hoping for a strong tournament and lots of cracking games in the knockout phase,” says Benjamin Speckenbach, head bookmaker at Tipico.

In Group B, Spain are currently on course to win (1.80), followed by Italy (3.20). Tournament favorites England (1.37) are in first place in Group C ahead of Denmark (5.00). According to Tipico, the favorite to win Group D is France (1.50), followed by the Netherlands (3.80). According to Tipico, Belgium (1.35) will win Group E and in Group F, the odds see Portugal (1.45) in first place ahead of Turkey (5.00). The optimistic outlook for the DFB team is also reflected in the odds for the knockout rounds: The odds of 1.03 suggest that Germany will at least reach the round of 16 – and the bet on a finalist “Germany” is at 3.40!

Who will leave the pitch as top scorer?

And then there’s the most important thing in soccer – the goals. Who will be the superstar of the European Championship, who will score the most goals? The answer is likely to be decided by the goal scorers themselves: With Tipico odds of 5.50, high-flyer Kylian Mbappé is just ahead of FC Bayern star and England captain Harry Kane (6.00). Still in third place: Portugal’s veteran Cristiano Ronaldo (10.00). Germany’s hopes rest on Kai Havertz in 6th place (20), Niclas Füllkrug (30) and Jamal Musiala, who, like Florian Wirtz, has odds of 35. It is quite possible that the German strikers will hit the net in the opening game against Scotland: The Tipico odds for Germany to score three or more goals in the opening game are 2.15.

More information and everything to do with Tipico’s European Championship betting: https://www.tipico.de/wett-tipps/em-2024