Gambling & Casinos in Germany – What you Need to Know
Germany is a federation consist of sixteen states with different areas of jurisdictions and responsibilities. It is greatly famous for having rich and fascinating history. This includes the two oldest casinos in the world. One of these is Casino Wiesbaden. It was built in 1810 and is also the oldest gambling establishment in the history.
Although all casinos in Germany were closed in 1872 due to some misfortunes, Casino Wiesbaden has reopened and continued to thrive until today. It now has around 200 slot machines along with roulette, blackjack, baccarat for the classic lovers. The next one is the Kurhaus Baden-Baden which became a popular tourist spot for both gamblers and non-gamblers.
Germany Casinos & Gambling
Germany’s society changed after World War 2. A new constitution was made, and gambling places were reopened. The German government also tried to monopolize the gambling industry but the European union put an end to it. This paved the way for private companies as well as individuals to launch gambling establishments in the country.
The European union intervention continued until 2006 as the sports betting in Germany was also considered monopolized. Sports betting is generally popular in Germany especially online sports betting. Until today, majority of the gambling establishments are still owned by the government although there are several who are owned by private companies and individuals.
Furthermore, Germany’s gambling laws differ depending on which category a game falls on. For example, games of chances are games where payment is required to get a chance to win the game. It is also a game of chance when winning is clearly through a matter of chance. Any game that meets this definition is subject to a distinct gambling legislation.
Germany Online Gambling Laws
The main law that covers both in-land and online gambling Germany is the Interstate Treaty on Gambling which was ratified last March 2021 and was enforced in July 2021. This treaty brings great changes in the legislation framework of both gambling and online gambling. Moreso, this treaty liberalizes sports betting since there was no clear regulations covering it which was also abused by sportsbooks.
Through this law, operators are now able to get a license to establish and offer online casino games. It also includes the licenses for establishment and dealership of online sports betting. As mentioned above, there is also a separate license for different categories of games. For the games of chances, the requires the companies to make sure to comply with the objectives of the Interstate Treaty.
This includes the prevention of addiction for gambling and betting, focusing the people’s gaming desire through regulated and legal gaming channels, fair and orderly gaming procedures, avoidance of fraud. Along with this is security of youth and players, maintaining an honest and fair sports betting.
In addition, you should never allow minors and blacklisted players to play in your platform. Money lending to players is also not allowed. As well as social concept adoption and setting up separate areas for different types of games of chances. There are also different requirements to follow for getting the special license to organize online poker, online sports betting, and virtual slot machines.
Payment Methods in Germany
Just like games, payment transactions are also regulated. In this regard, anonymous payment means like bitcoins are not allowed. Only those transactions made from legitimate and established credit institutions, financial service institutions, and e-money institutions are permitted. On a positive note, there are several common payment methods which are popular in Europe including Germany. See the list below.
- Debit & Credit Cards (VISA, Mastercard)
- PayPal
- PaySafeCard
- Skrill
- Neteller
- Trustly
- MuchBetter
- Bank Transfer
- Giropay
- Google Pay
- Apple Pay
- Phone bill or SMS payments
How to Bet Online in Germany
There are several ways to bet online in Germany as there are several online casinos that are now legal. Commonly, you will need to choose which online casino Germany you think is the best online casino for you. Then, you will need to register, claim your welcome bonus if there are. Next, you will need to choose which game you want to play, choose your betting option and then you’re good. Here are some of the trusted online casinos available in Germany.
- Unibet
- 888 casino
- Betway
- Bet365
- NEO.bet
Online Games in Germany
Germans love online casinos as much as other races does. Mostly, they are into sports betting, table games, slot games and more. They usually come in different themes, with different characters or symbols depending on the casino and game developers who manage and make the games. Even more, high RTP games are also loved by German gamblers from every state.
FAQS for German Players
Can I use real money to gamble/play in online casinos?
Yes, this is why the recently passed Interstate Treaty on Gambling included a section for regulating deposit and withdrawal payment options. It is mainly to keep the players safe from fraud.
What is the legal age for online gambling in Germany?
Like most of the countries, the legal age for gambling – online or in-land is at 18 years old. Anyone gambling younger is highly prohibited.
Are online casinos legal in Germany?
If the provider has a German license to operate, manage and deal online casino games, then it is legal. If they don’t, then they are not. Always remember to check the casino’s license to prevent any inconvenience along the way.