The Top Online Gambling Sites in Germany

Germany’s online gambling market is very well regulated, with plenty of great legal sites for players to enjoy. On this German online gambling sites guide, we’ve recommended reputable operators with top gaming offers and promotions. You can find the best German online casinos and sportsbooks below.

John Isaac, Editor at online-gambling.com

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John Isaac is one of the editors at online-gambling.com. He is an expert at card games, such as blackjack and poker. In addition, he writes about the US gambling laws and the Indian and Dutch gambling markets.

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Available Gambling Activities in Germany

Both the land-based and online gaming industry are well established in Germany. The available German gambling sites are regulated by the Joint Gaming Authority of the States (GGL). Local gamblers can still enjoy online casino games such as slots. There are also other gambling products like sports betting and the lottery.

Online Casino Gaming in Germany

As of 2021, online gambling is legal and regulated in all 16 states in Germany. The changes were under the new German Interstate Treaty on Gambling (ISTG). The country has imposed strict procedures that operators must adhere to, including a ban on certain games, deposit limits, ID checks, and more. This guarantees you’ll play at safe, fair, and reliable sites. You can find the top recommended German casino below:

Online Sports Betting

Germany is home to a thriving sports betting industry, with the land-based sports betting market taking billions of euros in bets every year. As of 2020, Germany has started to award its first online sports betting licenses, further strengthening the country’s push toward a fair and open online market.

German bettors can now wager at some top international sportsbooks and access modern features such as live betting and live-streaming sports events. Popular markets include Bundesliga football, although there are dozens of other sports leagues to bet on. You can find the top sports betting offer below.

Daily Fantasy Sports

As per the latest regulations in the country, daily fantasy sports betting is not legally allowed in Germany. Therefore, German players have no access to this gambling product. As of January 2023, one of the biggest DFS operators, DraftKings, has suspended its activities in Germany. We will keep you posted in case of any changes in the future.

Online Poker

For the time being, the German online poker market is quite limited. However, this does not suggest that online poker players have no options. Several top poker sites accept German players. As land-based poker is legal in the country. Online operators must be licensed by the GGL to provide access to poker games legally. These include single-game events and tournaments for popular games such as Stud Poker and Texas Hold’em.

Online Lottery

By playing online, German lottery players have access to a huge international lottery market. The top lottery sites will offer everything from local German draws to European draws and even international games. If scratch cards or bingo is more of your thing, our top recommended lottery sites also offer plenty of unique digital games with decent odds to win.

These are reputable and safe sites that guarantee fast payouts, so we suggest you consider playing the online lottery if you’re searching for a convenient way to participate. Claim the lottery welcome bonus above to get started with a bigger budget.

German Online Gambling Guide

At this stage, you may have found the right gambling site for you. While this is great, there is still some information that we suggest you read before making your final decision. In the upcoming sections, we’ll provide details and tips on spotting a fun, fair, and trustworthy gambling site. Whether it’s licensing and safety, the game options, fairness, or the bonuses, our guides will guarantee that you always know what’s best for you.

Licencing, Security & Safety at German Gambling Sites

Due to the high volume of financial traffic that online gambling sites facilitate, online casinos and sportsbooks are frequently targeted by scammers and hackers. In some cases, scammers will create sites with rigged games to trick unsuspecting players. This is why it’s essential to choose a website that is safe and secure.

The best way to ensure a site is trustworthy is by checking that it is licensed. Licensing guarantees that games are fair by requiring operators to supply certificates from independent testing laboratories. It also ensures that responsible gambling practices are met and that encryption technology safeguards players’ website connections. You can find details for reputable organizations dedicated to protecting German players below.

It’s All About the Games

If you were to ask most players why they ended up choosing the online gambling site they did, it’s likely due to the gambling products that were offered. Whether it’s the games that online casino stocks or the betting features and markets on a sportsbook, we always recommend you check the available products before you sign up.

The best online gambling sites will offer games and bet selection that are diverse so that it appeals to more players. It should also offer options that cater to both low-budget players and high-rollers. Your primary experience at the site will be with the games, so it’s essential to verify that these meet your standards. Even if the site is offering a generous bonus offer, it won’t be worth anything if you’ve got nothing to spend it on.

Popular Real Money Online Gambling Games

Due to the fact that it is more widely available, sports betting remains to be the most popular online gambling market. Germany is well-known as being a nation of football lovers, so bettors tend to gravitate toward betting on local Bundesliga games the most. However, online casino usage has rapidly increased in the last five years, and with a more open market on the horizon, we expect for the industry to face another boom.

Video slots are already extremely popular at German online casinos, just as they are at land-based gaming establishments. Table games such as roulette and blackjack are also popular among players from the country, but still, it depends on whether they are available in your DE state. We have listed the most popular gambling games in Germany and their RTPS below.

German Gambling Site Bonuses and Promotions

Choosing a decent welcome bonus is a great way to begin your time at a new gambling site. Depending on which site you choose, there will be different kinds of bonuses available. For example, at online sports betting sites, common bonuses include free bets, bonus funds, and odds boosts. Online casinos, on the other hand, tend to award free spins for popular slots or award bonus funds after the first deposits are made.

We recommend you always read the terms and conditions before you claim a bonus, as these detail how long you have to use the bonus and how much it needs to be wagered before it can be withdrawn as real money. You can find our top bonus offers for new players at German gambling sites below.

Best Payout German Gambling Sites

The payout of a gambling site tells us a couple of important things, but it is primarily used to reveal the fairness rating of a website. Before working out the average payout of a site, you must first understand the return to player (RTP) rates of individual games.

These RTPs indicate how much of what is invested in the game will be awarded as winnings. The average payout of a website is the average RTP of the total game or bet offerings at a site. Therefore, the higher this number, the more fair a website is. Below, we’ve provided the verified payout rates at the top German gambling sites.

Available Payment Methods

The best gambling sites will accept a number of different well-known payment providers. This is important, as the biggest payment brands tend to have strong reputations for providing secure transactions and utilizing anti-fraud technology. As we said, online gambling sites are frequently targeted by scammers, so this added protection guarantees more consumer safety.

It’s also important to offer a variety of methods as it ensures that more players are catered to and that customers have options in regards to transaction times and fees. Below are the most common and trustworthy payment methods that are accepted at German gambling sites.

1. e-Wallets:
   1. PayPal
   2. Neteller
   3. ecoPayz
   4. Skrill
   5. Klarna
2. Credit/Debit Cards:
   1. Mastercard
   2. VISA
   3. Maestro
3. Bank Transfers:
   1. Instant Banking
   2. Bank Transfer
   3. Wire Transfer
4. Other:
   1. Bitcoin
   2. Paysafecard
   3. ApplePay
   4. Google Pay
   5. Trustly

Mobile Gambling Apps

A recent survey of German gamblers indicated that online mobile gambling has surpassed online desktop gambling, with 65 per cent of slot gameplay now taking part on mobiles. As this number is set to increase, it’s become essential for the top gambling sites to offer fast, reliable, and stable mobile gaming platforms.

Whether through dedicated mobile apps or browser-compatible versions, it’s important that both Android and iOS users can access a full suite of games and betting products while on the go. Below, you can find the best gambling apps for each gambling category of German gambling sites.

Safe, Fair, and Reliable Gambling Software

Have you ever noticed that a lot of your favorite slot games have similar controls, features, or aesthetics? If so, it’s likely that the games are made by the same software developers. When you’re checking out the games catalogue of a potential new casino, we suggest that you take a look at which game developers are stocked.

The more big software names are represented, the more sure you can be that the website will offer a diverse gaming experience that is reliable and fair. Choosing a site built on reputable software is a great way to guarantee that you will not be bugged by technical issues or fooled by unfair titles.

Germany Gambling Laws & Regulations

Germany’s land-based and online gambling laws are fairly straightforward to interpret. Land-based gambling is regulated on a regional level, and it is up for the Ministry of the Interior for each state to regulate gaming. As of January 2023, online casino gambling is regulated by the Joint Gaming Authority of the States (GGL).

Is Online Gambling Legal in Germany?

Online sports betting is completely legal and this has been approved by laws. All German players are able to gamble online at GGL-approved sites. These operators are completely legal and safe and operate according to the latest standards imposed on the gambling industry in Germany.

Land-Based Gambling

Land-based gambling laws are a matter of state law rather than federal law. Each state has its own Casino Act that determines which games are classified as gambling activities and which are not. That being said, it is possible to find legal gambling establishments in every state. This includes slots, sports betting sites, poker, and the lottery. Interestingly enough, a majority of Germany’s casinos are run by the state and are closely observed by local regulators.

Regional Gambling Laws

For some time, gambling has been regulated on a state level in Germany. However, this has resulted in what is a largely unregulated market with inconsistencies across the country. In order to address the problem, Germany’s states signed the first Interstate Treaty in 2012 in order to set out some blanket regulations for the online gaming market.

The only state that did not sign at the time was Schleswig-Holstein, which instead chose to regulate its own market. In 2020, all states agreed to a ratified Interstate Treaty, which would see online casino gambling regulated at the federal level. As of January 2023, the online gambling market is regulated by the Joint Gaming Authority of the States (GGL).

Official Regulatory Body

Until the Interstate Treaty of 2021 comes into effect in 2021, there were two regulators for Germany’s online gambling market. The first of these is Schleswig-Holstein. There are roughly two dozen online casino operators that have been licensed by the region. Despite its signing of the ratified Interstate Treaty, the current licences will be extended until 2024.

The other regulator is the Darmstadt Regional Council in the state of Hessen. This council was chosen by the federal government to issue licenses for the online sports betting market in 2020. Already, the regulator has approved over 20 sports betting sites. The latest online casino regulator in Germany is the Joint Gaming Authority of the States (GGL). Any operator in the country must be issued a valid gambling licence by the GGL.

Taxes on Online Gambling in Germany

Land-based casinos that are state-run pay 80% of their gross gaming revenues as taxes. Commercial online casinos, poker sites, and sportsbooks must pay a 19% tax on all gross gaming revenues. This is the amount that is taken from players after all winnings are paid out.

Sports bets are taxed at 5% of the wager, and lottery tickets are taxed at 5% of the wager. Gambling operators must pay these on top of regular state taxes and VAT. As for gamblers, winnings are taxed at a fixed rate of 5% and must be declared in annual tax returns. These are relatively standard rates for EU countries.

Legal Gambling Age

Gamblers must be over 18 years old in order to gamble legally in Germany. This is a fixed age requirement and applies to all gambling activities, from the lottery to land-based casino gambling. This is similar to the UK, which requires all players to be over 18 to gamble. Remember that if you gamble underage, it is considered to be a criminal offence in Germany.

Advertising Laws

While most states agreed to ban television and online advertisements for online casinos, Schleswig-Holstein’s self-exemption from the treaty has allowed operators to purchase advertisements that can be viewed across the country. Recently, the state has amended its advertising laws to limit the time slots casino advertisements can air.

Online casino operators are now restricted to only advertising on nationwide free-to-air TV. Operators are now limited to a maximum of 17,000 minutes of airtime per month. These advertisements can not be placed between the hours of 6 am and 9 pm to reduce exposure of gambling products to minors. There are also strict rules that forbid any advertising of unauthorized gambling games.

Penalties for Illegal Gambling

German authorities do not take gambling offences lightly. The punishment for gambling-related offences can include hefty fines, suspension or removal or a gaming license, or even imprisonment. The most serious offences include illegally-offered games, money laundering, match-fixing, tax evasion, and accepting underage players. We suggest doing some research into your own home state to discover the local penalties for illegal gambling activities.

Upcoming Regulation Changes

As of July 2021, Germany was set to introduce some of the largest changes to its gambling industry in the last fifty years. We are referring to the Interstate Treaty of 2021, which will introduce a federally regulated online gambling market across the country. While the details of the treaty are still being ironed out, there are several elements that have already been confirmed. These include:

Responsible Gambling Initiatives

One of the most beneficial things that came out with the changes to Germany’s gambling regulations is the requirement for licensed operators to do more to tackle problem gambling. In jurisdictions such as the UK, the Gambling Commission has required all operators to include self-exclusion and self-limitation technology for players struggling with their gaming habits.

It appears Germany will follow this path, too, and require that operators create a responsible gambling plan and meet strict standards to create a more healthy gaming environment. Below, we’ve listed a number of problem gambling organizations that cater to German players.

Interesting Facts About the German Online Gambling Market

According to recent studies, it appears as though Germany’s online gambling market is set for major growth in the next few years. It’s expected that within four years, the online gambling market will be worth over €3 billion, which is around €1.1 billion more than it’s worth now.

Each year, revenues for online casinos and sportsbooks are expected to grow by 11% and 19%, respectively. The same survey found that most German players are looking forward to the upcoming regulation changes, and more than 62% of respondents stated that they intend to use locally-licensed operators instead of offshore gambling sites once the laws come into effect.

History of Gambling in Germany

As Germany, as it remains today, has only had a constitution since the late 1940s, it’s difficult to go too deep into the gambling situation. Much of the country was affected by war and Soviet-occupation for the twentieth century, which in turn made gambling rules murky. The most relevant changes began after World War II, when the West German Constitution was signed.

This paved the way for states to create their own gambling laws. However, up until the 1990s, gambling was quite restricted, and the black market flourished. The 21st century has brought the most changes to the industry, with 2021 set to bring an open land-based and online gambling industry that can be enjoyed across the country.

Famous Land-Based Casino and Gambling Resorts

There are more than 80 land-based casinos located in over 70 cities throughout Germany, with most of these offering a wide selection of slots, table games, and poker. The capital city of Berlin is the largest gambling city in the country, with five casinos throughout the city.

The largest casino in the country is the Spielbank Do-Honeysburg, which offers hundreds of slots, 12 table games, and poker across its three-floor gaming floor. Other notable casinos include the Spielbank Berlin Casino, the Casino Duisburg, Casino Wiesbaden, and the Baden-Baden casino, which is arguably the best gambling destination in the country.

Famous German Poker Players

German is home to dozens of poker players who have amassed wealth and fame throughout the world. Many of these have scored highly or even won major tournaments such as the World Series of Poker, or have earned millions of dollars from online poker tournaments.

It has been reported that German players have lost the least money at poker, which indicates the cautious yet considered playing style of many German poker stars. The most successful of all German poker players is Fedor Holz, who has earned more than $35 million USD from mostly high-roller tournaments. Below, you can find a list of the most famous German poker players.

The Perks of Online Gambling vs Land-Based Gambling in Germany

When it comes to choosing where to gamble in Germany, locals have a lot of options. With so many decent land-based gambling facilities across the country, many don’t have to travel far to find a place to gamble. That being said, nothing can compete with the convenience of online gambling, with most of the best sites offering mobile options.

Online gambling sites also offer welcome bonuses, whereas it’s hard to find promotions such as these at land-based casinos and sportsbooks. Perhaps the biggest disadvantage to online gambling is that you will miss out on the atmosphere and social aspect of a casino visit. As Germany has a number of beautiful, old casino buildings, we recommend visiting these for more special occasions.

More Guides to Read

We hope that you have learned a lot from this guide to gambling in Germany, and that we’ve helped you make the best decision about which gambling site is right for you. If you’re after more of the helpful and informative guides to other areas of gambling, then we suggest visiting more of our Online-Gambling.com pages. You can find three of our most popular pages below.

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