The topic of online gambling in Germany is complex and raises many questions. What does the law say about it? Is it generally prohibited?
GLÜSTV
To shed some light on the matter, let's take a look at the 2021 State Treaty on Gambling. This treaty regulates which types of online gambling are permitted in Germany. These include lotteries, online casinos, online poker, horse betting, sports betting and virtual slot machine games.
In Germany, responsibility for online gambling lies with the federal states, which agreed on the legal framework in the State Treaty on Gambling in 2021. Since 2023, the Joint Gambling Authority of the States has been monitoring the German online gambling market and taking action against illegal providers.
But which online casinos are legal in Germany?
This is where the German gambling license comes into play. Every provider that offers online gambling in Germany must have such a license. A license from another EU country, such as Malta or Cyprus, is not valid in Germany.
To make sure that a provider is legal, you can download the official list, also known as the “whitelist,” and check whether your desired provider is on it.
However, it is important to note that there are fewer legal gambling offers than you might think. For example, there is not a single provider of online casino games in Germany with a German license. In the area of online poker, there are only five legal providers with a German license. For many other games of chance, only a few providers with a German license are available.
Caution!
Participation in gambling without a license is a criminal offense in Germany (as of June 23, 2023), unless it is an old license issued by Schleswig-Holstein. However, these old licenses only apply to gambling in and from Schleswig-Holstein.
Be careful and don't be fooled by internet or television advertising. Many gambling providers lure you with tempting offers such as free spins or bonuses for games such as roulette, poker or sports betting. In Germany, many of these offers are still illegal. Stay informed and play responsibly!