Nicholas Emiliou, advocate general at the European Court of Justice, sided with Tipico customers in his opinion, emphasizing the need for national licenses and potential refunds of stakes. Thousands of bettors hope for billions in reimbursements.
On Thursday, Nicholas Emiliou, advocate general at the European Court of Justice (ECJ), largely sided with Tipico customers in his opinion. The key case involves a bettor who wagered significant sums at Tipico from 2013 to 2020. The provider held a Maltese but no German license. Germany's Federal Court of Justice (BGH) referred the question of whether providers need a national permit or can rely on EU freedom of services. Emiliou rules: Providers require a national license; without it, they may face refund obligations. His opinion is typically decisive, as the ECJ usually follows it. Hannes Beuck of Gamesright calls it a 'strong vote for consumer protection': 'Now it's clear: Affected parties must get their losses back.' Lawyer Marc Ellerbrock, representing over 1,000 clients, states: 'This is an unqualified positive day for us, as the advocate general follows our arguments on all key points.' Tipico, however, feels strengthened by an exception: If German authorities tolerated the offering, they would refund. A spokesperson argues: 'Exactly that happened in Germany' and predicts 'the end of player lawsuits in Germany.' German courts have already awarded players six-figure sums, with client losses from €5,000 to €700,000. Claims could total billions. Tipico, Germany's sports betting leader, denies restructuring to evade payouts.
