Schleswig Holstein, the most liberal and progressive German state (at least as far as online gambling is concerned) has attracted another internet gambling company sponsorship following Bwin.party.digital’s recent deal with the THW Kiel handball team.
In the latest initiative by an online gambling firm targeted on the internet gambling-friendly lander (province) PokerStars has won the naming rights for Stadion an der Lohm?hle, L?beck, home of the VfB L?beck fourth division soccer club. The facility has a capacity of almost 18,000 football fans and will officially be branded PokerStars.de ? Stadion an der Lohm?hle.
In September this year Schleswig-Holstein legalised online poker after splitting with the other 15 monopoly-minded German states and developing its own European Commission approved regulations (see previous reports).
The Pokerstars deal runs initially until 2013 with an option for a three year extension, a company spokesman revealed, adding that a payment of Euro 120,000 each season was payable to the club.
?We will consider further sponsorship opportunities in Schleswig-Holstein,” he said.
There has been some early criticism from German politicians, among them the Green Party’s Monika Heinold who complained that online poker legislation was not yet in force.