E-FOOTBALL
In order to strengthen the integrity of the Virtual Bundesliga Club Championship by WOW (VBL CC) and the DFB-ePokal powered by ERGO (DFB-ePokal) competitions and also to educate the participating players and clubs about the dangers of match-fixing, gambling addiction and betting, the DFL and the DFB are extending their commitment against match-fixing and the prevention measures against gambling addiction to the VBL CC and the DFB-ePokal starting from the 2020-21 season.
As initial preventative measures, prevention workshops for the VBL CC-players were developed and extensive rules and regulations were included in the new Match Rules for the Club Competition of the Virtual Bundesliga (VBL-SpO) and the Terms and Conditions of the DFB-ePokal.
Prevention Workshops
Since the 2020-21 season, participation in a prevention workshop is mandatory for all VBL CC-players. This prevention workshop is conducted at the beginning of each season and will sensitises the players of the VBL CC to the dangers of match-fixing, betting and gambling addiction, taking into account the special features of eFootball, in order to also strengthen the integrity of the VBL CC in the long term.
Rules & Regulations
The Regulation on the Club Competition of the Virtual Bundesliga (VBL-SpO) and the DFL-Model Player's Contract contain regulations on the prohibition of match-fixing, a betting ban and the prohibition of disclosure of inside information. The Terms and Conditions of the DFB-ePokal do also provide a ban for betting as well as match-fixing. In the event of violations, the DFL or the DFB can impose sanctions (e.g. suspensions, fines, loss of points or exclusion from participation in the competitions of the VBL CC) on the club but also on individual players. Besides this DFB and DFL Regulations, sports- or betting-related manipulation of an eFootball competition can also become a matter of criminal law.
Prohibition of Match-Fixing
According to the Regulations on the Club Competition of the Virtual Bundesliga (VBL-SpO) and the Terms and Conditions of the DFB-ePokal, any kind of match-fixing is prohibited. Match-fixing can be carried out in the field of eFootball in a similar way as in conventional football. However, match-fixing through deliberate misconduct (e.g. deliberate losing, so-called "throwing") is much easier and more effective to implement, as it is literally in the eFootballer's own hands how a game develops. In addition, unlike in conventional soccer, knowledge of game and programming errors (so-called bugs) or the use of cheats (so-called “cheating”) can be exploited to gain an advantage for oneself or a third party.
The manipulation of the VBL CC or DFB-ePokal could - depending on the legal opinion - be punishable as a ’manipulation of a professional sports competition’ according to § 265d of the Criminal Code (Strafgesetzbuch) and be punished with a prison sentence of up to three years (in especially serious cases even up to 5 years, § 265e of the Criminal Code (Strafgesetzbuch).
Prohibition of Disclosure of Inside Information
According to the Tournament Regulations of the VBL-CC the disclosure of information not generally accessible by the public, that someone gains because of his function as a player, coach, referee, club employee, etc. and which can be used for betting (insider information) is prohibited. This is, for example, knowledge of game errors (so-called bugs), but also information concerning team tactics, team line-up or financial or personal problems that are not publicly known.
This inside information must not be disclosed to third parties. Therefore, absolute confidentiality is required, especially on social media and on gaming platforms (such as Twitch or YouTube), but also in conversations with family and friends.
Prohibition of Betting
For a few years now, the eSports industry has been enjoying enormous growth in popularity, with the consequence that various betting providers have also expanded their offerings to include eSports competitions. In 2023 alone, the global betting turnover on eSports competitions amounted to 2 billion euros. This also leads to eSports becoming the focus of criminals who want to gain betting advantages through match-fixing.
The betting ban in § 74 of the Regulations on the Club competition of the Virtual Bundesliga,(VBL-SpO), which is based on the betting ban of § 1 Nr. 2 and 3 Legal and Procedural Rules of the DFB, prohibits players from betting on their matches, matches of their team or on matches of the competitions in which the player himself/herself or his/her team is participating, or from asking third parties to bet on these matches and competitions.
The Terms and Conditions of the DFB-ePokal impose a general betting ban on the players, especially prohibiting bets on the DFB-ePokal.
The State Treaty on Gambling (Glückspielstaatsvertrag) does not explicitly regulate the handling of bets on eFootball competitions. Furthermore, such bets are increasingly offered on foreign betting markets, so that particular caution is required when participating in betting on eFootball competitions; in case of doubt, refrain from placing a bet. Minors are generally prohibited from participating in betting (and all other types of gambling) under the Youth Protection Act (Jugendschutzgesetz) and the State Treaty on Gambling (Glücksspielstaatsvertrag).
The manipulation of an eFootball competition in order to achieve a betting profit constitutes ‘fraud’ pursuant to § 263 of the German Criminal Code (Strafgesetzbuch) and could - depending on the legal opinion - constitute a punishable ‘sports betting fraud’ pursuant to § 265c of the German Criminal Code (Strafgesetzbuch), which can be punished with a prison sentence of up to three 3 years (in especially serious cases up to 5 years, § 265e of the German Criminal Code (Strafgesetzbuch).
Consequences
A breach of the DFB-ePokal Terms and Conditions or of the Regulations on the Club competition of the Virtual Bundesliga (VBL-SpO) may also lead to the following punitive measures: reset of a match to a fair state, awarding of a match in favour of the compliant player/team, warning or suspension of a player, for the respective and further seasons, suspension of a complete team or the obligation to return any prize (money)/winnings.
In addition to the consequences under DFL and DFB Regulations and Criminal Law (e.g. fines, suspensions, imprisonment) match-fixing, betting fraud and the disclosure of inside information can also have far-reaching consequences under civil law for the players, e.g. dismissals of employment and sponsorship or claims for damages.
Ombudsman
The Ombudsman, Dr. Carsten Thiel von Herff, also acts on behalf of the VBL CC-players and all persons involved in the VBL CC-competitions. In this function, he is available at any time as an independent contact person for players, coaches, referees, club officials, etc. in case of indications of planned or arranged match-fixing. In addition, he provides comprehensive advice on all issues related to match-fixing and betting. Information on how to contact him can be found here.
Gambling Addiction
In the context of eFootball, too, the prevention of gambling addiction and how to deal with betting and gambling in general are of central importance and thus a cornerstone of prevention workshops.
Here, the focus is not only on the dangers of gambling addiction in connection with betting on eFootball, but also on the topic of "computer game addiction" itself. The Federal Center for Health Education (BzGA) has developed a "self-test" on this topic: https://www.ins-netz-gehen.de/test-handysucht-computersucht/
Experience and knowledge as a professional or ambitious eFootball player do not lead to being able to reliably predict the outcome of competitions and thus increase the chances of winning bets. Betting on eFootball competitions thus remains gambling. Once you have lost money, there is a risk of increasing stakes, playing more often, maybe even with borrowed money. The use of apps from various betting providers and participation in live betting intensifies this effect, as a bet can be placed very easily at any time and in any place. This can create debts and addictions that are exploited by members of criminal organizations by promising money or forgiving gambling debts in return for match-fixing.
