Deutsche Telekom had applied for a sports betting license that would allow the telecommunications firm to compete with online gambling companies in Germany.

According to a Reuters report, Deutsche Telekom said the application was still at a very early stage. The report quoted the company's spokesperson, saying that the license application was still being reviewed by the Interior Ministry of the German state of Hesse.

Deutsche Telekom's spokesperson also said that the company had not been certain about the approval of whether it would turn the application into an operating business. A spokesman for the ministry declined to give statements on the matter.

Gambling firms such as Bwin.party Digital Entertainment had been convincing the rest of Germany to adopt a more liberal approach pioneered by the state of Schleswig-Holstein. Other British-listed gambling companies like William Hill and Betfair had reduced its levels of activity after German tax and regulatory hurdles.

There had been 20 gambling companies that were allowed to offer sports betting in Germany. These companies had maintained tight control of the online gambling and getting market, said a Reuters report.