‘Over 6,000 lawsuits’ – Tipico welcomed in Brussels, beleaguered in Germany
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29 Jan 2026 •
Reading time: 2 minutes The contrast could hardly be greater. While Tipico proudly announced that it has joined the European Gaming and Betting Association (EGBA), in Germany the lawsuits are piling up. More than six thousand players are claiming money back, and criticism of the gambling company is growing.
What started as legal noise around old betting sites has since grown into a serious matter. According to Monitor and ARD, Tipico is said to have set aside only ten million euros for possible claims, while lawyers speak of a risk of up to one hundred and fifty million. At the same time, over a billion euros in dividends flowed to shareholders via Luxembourg. Is that allowed? Legally, perhaps. But the question is whether there will soon be anything left to pay damages with.
Germany seeks courtroom, Belgium opens Brussels gate
While in Germany judges are already ruling that bets from the unlicensed period are invalid, Tipico is simultaneously opting for a different route. The company joined the EGBA, a powerful lobbying organisation in Brussels that says it stands for ‘responsible gaming’ and high standards.
The EGBA welcomes Tipico as an experienced player. The group runs thousands of physical and online outlets in Germany and Austria and calls itself the market leader. Jochen Weiner, director of public affairs, says ‘they are committed to fighting the black market.’ A striking statement, given the discussions in Germany about their own past.
European paradox visible in one company
Two legal proceedings on Tipico are now before the European Court of Justice. One is about the controversial Maltese law Bill 55, which aims to block foreign judgments against gambling companies. Ironically, Tipico also uses a Maltese licence for some operations.
Meanwhile, the EGBA says Tipico’s membership should help ‘protect players’ and ‘avoid misleading advertising.’ That message sounds different in German courts, where players are trying to get their money back for illegally placed bets.
The situation highlights a wider problem in Europe: where one arm embraces companies for their international expertise, others challenge them for locally suffered damages. The difference between reputation and liability rarely seems so clear-cut.