Germany Online Gambling

The German authorities have finally seen the light! After passing the German Interstate Treaty on Gambling (ISTG), online casinos, sports betting, and online poker are now legal in Germany on a federal level. This was a massive moment for iGaming in Europe because the German market is expected to be worth €6 billion by 2027 and grow at 7% per year, whereas the greater German economy is growing at less than 2%.

Since Germany legalized online gambling, betting sites have been scrambling to get the required local license from the Gemeinsamen Glücksspielbehörde der Länder (GGL) to operate. However, in true German fashion, they have heavily regulated the iGaming market, and currently, only 30 + online casinos and sports betting sites have received a license. There are also lots of strict rules, including a €1 max bet on slots and a €1,000 monthly deposit cap.

Slots are by far the favorite game at online casinos Germany, but unfortunately, players are banned from progressive slots. When it comes to sports betting, it is all about football and the Bundesliga. Also, wherever the German national team plays, there is a massive uptick in betting.

The German online gambling market is a mixture of international operators like bet365 and bwin and local companies like XTiP Sportwetten, Sportwetten.de, Happybet, bet-at-home.com, and Merkur Spiel.

Is Online Gambling Legal in Germany?

Online casino gambling has been legal in Germany since 2022 after the German Interstate Gambling Treaty (ISTG) was passed. This piece of legislation legalized online sports betting, online casinos, and online poker in Germany at the federal level.

Prior to the ISTG, only Germans in Schleswig-Holstein could legally gamble online. However, now all Germans have equal access to online sports betting, casinos, and poker. But there is a catch, Germans can not play at offshore, gray market sites. The online gambling site must be licensed in Germany under the GGL.

The German online gambling market is still in its infancy stage, and regulators are still deciding on the different regulations and slowly handing out licenses. There are currently only 30 + German licensed online casinos and sports betting sites, whereas, in the UK, there are 2,000 + licensed gaming operators.

Germany is under pressure from large gambling companies to further liberalize their market, remove certain restrictions such as a €1,000 monthly deposit limit, and approve more licenses. It only seems a matter of time before the German online gambling market closely mimics the UK market, which is worth an estimated  €7 billion +.

Online Casinos in Germany

There are now 30 + licensed online casinos in Germany. The most popular German online casinos include bwin, DrückGlück, Merkur Spiel, StarGames, and Wunderino. These casinos offer slots, video poker, blackjack, roulette, baccarat, and other table games.

However, you won’t find any live online casino games or progressive jackpot slots as they have been banned by the German regulator. Also, if you are a high-roll slot player, you will be disappointed because the max you can bet is €1 per spin.

Online casinos Germany have a wide range of promos, including generous welcome bonuses like 100% + deposit matches + free spins. Unfortunately, these welcome bonuses tend to have much lower caps than international sites, with many maxing out at €100. German online casinos also have reload bonuses for existing players and VIP programs where you can convert the points you earned from playing online casino games into cash.

Sports Betting in Germany

Germany legalized online sports betting alongside online casinos in 2022, thanks to the ISTG 2021. To operate legally, companies have to apply for a specific sports betting license from the regulatory body, GGL. Licensed German sports betting sites are able to offer fixed odds on virtually all sports, including football (Bundesliga fans can breathe a sigh of relief), tennis, boxing, MMA, basketball, hockey, handball, cycling, and more.

German sports betting sites can also offer a range of bonuses and promos that you find at other European sportsbooks, like free bets and bonus cash. However, live betting is banned. The current German online sports betting market is dominated by a mixture of international and local operators. Big-time brands include bwin, bet365, XTiP Sportwetten, Sportwetten.de, Happybet, bet-at-home.com, and Merkur Spiel.

Germany Online Gambling At A Glance

Online gambling in Germany is now legal and closely regulated by the Gemeinsamen Glücksspielbehörde der Länder (GGL). This regulatory body is in charge of handing out all German iGaming licenses, including sports betting, online casino, and online poker games. The GGL has taken a proactive approach and has blocked 100s of offshore betting sites attempting to operate illegally in the German market.

While Germans can now legally enjoy online casinos, online poker games, and sports betting sites, the market is considered overly regulated. For example, live sports betting and progressive jackpot slots are banned, players can only deposit up to 1,000 euros per month, and the maximum bet on slots is just €1. Betting sites have been actively campaigning for German iGaming regulations to more closely mirror the EU market.

Germany also has a thriving offline gambling industry. There are 50 + brick-and-mortar casinos in Germany, and virtually every large city has at least one casino. Some of the most popular ones include Casino Berlin, Baden-Baden Casino, Casino Esplanade, and Casino Bad Wiessee.

Germans can bet on sports via self-serve kiosks, which are located in stadiums, clubs, casinos, and betting shops. Germans can also play lotteries and purchase tickets from supermarkets, convenience stores, gas stations, and special lottery shops.

Bonuses & Promotions For Online Gambling in Germany

Online gambling sites in Germany use bonuses and promotions to motivate new players to sign up and implore existing players to keep betting. While these bonuses do come with lots of terms and conditions, you can legitimately use them to win real money without risking your own cash.

Here are the main types of German online casino bonuses:

• No Deposit Bonus – Some extra generous online casinos will give you free spins (used to play slot machines for free) or bonus cash (used to play online slots and or table gambles for free) when you sign up. You don’t have to make a deposit to claim this bonus, and you can still win real money.
• Welcome Bonus – When you make your first deposit at a German online casino, you will often receive bonus cash and free spins. For example, a common welcome bonus might be 100% €100 match up to + 50 free spins.
• Reload Bonus – After you have used your welcome bonus, you can still score extra bonus cash and free spins by making another deposit and claiming a reload bonus. Reload bonuses work exactly like welcome bonuses.
• VIP Bonus – To reward frequent players, German online casinos will often give out exclusive bonuses, including free spins and bonus cash. Also, every time you bet, you typically earn points which then can be exchanged for cash or used to purchase gifts.

Here are the most common sports betting bonuses in Germany:

• Free Bets – With a free bet, you get to use the sportsbook’s own bankroll to make a real money bet on a sports match. For example, if you sign up, a sportsbook might give you a €5 free bet on any Bundesliga game.
• Bonus Cash – When you make a deposit at a sportsbook, they will often add extra bonus cash to your bankroll. For example, if you claim a 100% bonus and deposit €100, you will receive €200.
• Insurance – With an insurance bonus, you bet on a sporting contest using your own money, but if your wager loses, the sportsbook refunds a portion or all of your stake. For example, let’s say you claim a 100% insurance bonus and bet €20 on Bayern Munich to beat Real Madrid, but they lose. The sportsbook will send back the €20.

At Gambling Promo Codes, we provide you with exclusive bonuses, including free bets, bonus cash, and free spins from the best German online casinos and sportsbooks. To claim these incredible promos, simply sign up via our links and or enter our promo codes when prompted, it really is that simple!

How Online Gambling In Germany Works

Now that online gambling in Germany has been legalized and regulated, it works similarly to iGaming in other European markets. Here are the main aspects of online gambling in Germany:

Registration/Verification

The registration process at German online casinos and sports betting sites is standard. You just need to fill out a form and share your basic personal information, including full name, date of birth, and residence.

Before you start betting, you must verify your account. You need to upload a picture of your ID, and then you must hold up your ID to your face while a customer support agent checks via live video that you are not impersonating someone else.

Desktop/Mobile play

All German online gambling sites are available via desktop and mobile. To play, you simply open the betting site in your browser. Some German online casinos and sports betting sites also have specialized mobile apps.

Banking Methods

German online gambling sites have standard banking methods, including Mastercard, Visa, Skrill, Neteller, PayPal, SoFort, Paylado, and bank transfers. E-wallets are the best German banking method as they add an extra layer of security and offer the fastest cashout processing.

Types of Betting Options

At German online casinos, you can play all kinds of slots and table games, including baccarat, blackjack, roulette, and more. However, progressive jackpot games are explicitly banned, and so are live dealer games.

German sportsbooks have extensive betting markets, including 1X2, futures, handicaps, and parlays. You can bet on 30 + sports, including football, boxing, cycling, tennis, hockey, handball, MMA and basketball. However, currently live sports betting is banned.

Withdrawals

To withdraw from a German online gambling site, you simply need to sign in to your account, head to the cashier, and enter the amount you wish to cash out. You then select your payment method and fill out your details. Withdrawals are free, and you will receive your winnings within 1 to 5 days.

Support

German online casinos and sports betting sites offer customer support via live chat, telephone, and email. The support is typically 7 days a week but usually not 24/7. Both international and local operators offer customer support in German.

Tips To Find Legit Online Gambling Sites in Germany

Do you need some help distinguishing good German online gambling sites from the not-so-good? Then the next time you stumble across an online casino or sports betting site, use our review methodology and rate them based on these factors:

License – Only sign up to online betting sites that hold a valid German license. It is illegal to operate without a license from the GGL. You can check if they hold a German license by going to their site and scrolling to the bottom.

• Bonuses – The German online gambling sites will welcome you with a hefty sign up bonus. 50% to 100% deposit matches are common, so don’t leave free bonus cash on the table!
• Games/Betting Markets – Always check out the site’s game library and sports betting markets before you sign up, look at the number of games/sports and bet types, and analyze the odds, online casino software, and game providers.
• Features – Check to see if the online casino or sportsbook offers any special features, and keep an eye out for odds boosts, VIP programs, fast payouts, early cashouts, and mobile apps.
• User Experience – Don’t settle for a clunky website that takes forever to load and isn’t mobile-optimized. Your gaming experience should be fast, smooth, and equally good whether you are playing on a desktop or mobile. The sign up process should be simple, and finding games/betting markets should be easy.
• Terms and Conditions – Stick to German online gambling sites with reasonable wagering requirements (sub 30x) and fair expiry dates so you can fully use your bonus and don’t place restrictive win caps.

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