Cheeky PunterGuide to online betting in Germany including the best betting sites and a full look at German gambling law and legislation. It is currently illegal for online gambling sites to operate within Germany itself, but offshore operators can still accept Germany players. Online gambling sites are currently unregulated in Germany, but this is soon set to change as of 1 July 2021.

1. Gambling In Nazi Germany

German betting sites have seen their ups and downs in recent years. Brick and mortar gambling is expressly legal in Germany but online gambling rests in a bit of a legal grey area at the moment. The good news is there are plenty of options for players when it comes to finding a place to play games online.

So, we’ll start with the fun stuff and then later get into the nitty gritty of German gambling law. Below is a list of safe betting websites that accept Germans. Each of the following sites is an international gambling brand with a license to host real money games. These sites provide casino games, online poker, sports betting, poker and much more.

Best German Betting Sites

It’s important to remember that even though online gambling is considered “banned” in Germany, there are no laws that prevent citizens from signing up and playing. You can make deposits, play and receive cashouts without worry. The laws only apply to gambling operators, not individual players.

German gambling laws are spotty, open to interpretation and have been condemned by the EU for standing in the way of European Union free trade and competition agreements. What this means for you is you can play anywhere you want and face no consequences for doing so.

The sites mentioned above cater to German residents, accept Euros and can process deposits and withdrawals via a variety of banking options. These include Sofortüberweisung, Skrill, Neteller, PayPal, credit cards, Instadebit, Click2Pay and more.

German Gambling Laws

Prior to 2008, Germany’s gaming laws did not address online gambling. No gambling websites operated out of Germany, but many from other locations accepted German customers and people were able to play where they wanted. German lawmakers took notice of this and decided to look into restricting gambling on the grounds of safety and protecting the public from gambling addiction.

The Interstate Treaty on Gaming was passed in January of 2008. The legislation banned all forms of online gambling except for horse racing betting. The treaty also made it possible for authorities to direct financial institutions not to process transactions for Germany gaming sites and to ask internet service providers to block access to betting websites.

The EU found the treaty to be anti-competitive and ordered Germany to amend the law. Lawmakers acquiesced and amended the treaty in 2011. Fifteen of sixteen states signed the amended treaty. Only the state of Schleswig-Holstein opted out.

The amended Interstate Treaty on Gaming allowed for a total of 20 licenses to be offered for online sports betting websites. Casino games and poker were still prohibited from obtaining licenses. The sports betting licenses never materialized as Germany delayed the process multiple times. To this date, no national licenses have been granted in Germany.

Schleswig-Holstein had other plans in mind when it opted out of the amended treaty in 2012. That year, the state passed its own gaming act which allowed for up to 50 licenses to be granted to sites offering online poker, casino games and sports betting. Seven of these licenses were granted under the act in 2012.

Elections brought a new state government into power a year later and the state dropped its previous legislation allowing for licenses. The state then joined the Interstate Treaty on Gaming. However, this didn’t happen before seven 6-year licenses went into effect. Instead of rejecting those licenses, the state government decided to let them continue on and will not renew them.

Sites licensed in Schleswig-Holstein were therefore able to operate and offer real money games until the end of 2018. At that time, those licenses expired as lawmakers now consider other options moving forward.

Germany’s ban on online gambling is unenforceable. Sites may be prohibited from obtaining licenses in Germany, but operators based out of other countries are able to accept signups from Germany. The only thing the current laws achieve is causing the German government to miss out on the tax revenue that could be collected under a legitimate licensing system.

As far as individual players go, you’re still free to play wherever you want. All of the biggest names in online gambling accept customers from all 16 states. They can process payments via well-known banking methods and provide all forms of internet gambling.

It’s likely the laws will change for the better at some point. As it stands now, the German government is accomplishing little with its prohibitive gaming laws. Lawmakers will either eventually come to accept this fact and take steps to regulate online gaming or ban all forms of gambling. I’m betting on the former.

Mounting pressure from the European Union is also likely to serve as a catalyst for change. In February of 2016, the Court of Justice for the European Union (CJEU) issued a ruling against Germany’s gaming laws. In short, the court found that Germany’s so-called licensing process amount to protectionism of the state’s monopoly over online betting. This runs counter to European free trade agreements and serves as the basis for the CJEU’s ruling. EU officials have called upon Germany to update its gaming laws to become compliant with EU agreements.

In April of 2016, the EU once again ruled against Germany’s online gambling laws. That ruling found that Germany’s existing laws run afoul of EU treaties (again), but this time it also gave betting sites licensed in other EU nations the ability to offer their services to Germans without legal repercussions.

Deposit Methods for Germans

Although previous legislation gives the government the power to restrict banking transactions to unlicensed gaming sites, no actions to that effect have been taken. Once you choose a place to play, you have numerous options for funding your account and withdrawing.

• Credit Card
• Neteller
• Sofortüberweisung by Skrill
• PayPal
• Ukash
• Instadebit
• Click2Pay

German gambling sites can be found by those German players who are industrious enough to know where to look for them. It can be a tricky situation for gamblers for Germany since the laws concerning online gambling are somewhat contradictory and confusing. Luckily, those Germans who wish to do some online wagering can place their bets with top gambling sites in physical locations where such operations are legal.

You might not know from the gambling laws within the country that German actually boasts a strong gambling culture. Sports wagering is readily accepted in the European country, and there are casinos spread throughout the country. Yet online gambling is a bit of murkier world.

Online gambling in Germany is technically illegal on a national level. But there are state laws that differ. And enforcement of the ban is essentially nonexistent on the side of the gamblers.

What that means is that legit online gambling sites from around the world are essentially open to German gamblers, or “punters” as they are sometimes labeled in the country. Choosing between those sites can be a tricky proposition. That’s why we’re here to help you by yielding as much information as we can about German gambling sites.

In this article, we’ll provide you with a detailed list of websites that will provide online gambling to German gamblers. We’ll also take a look at what makes these sites so solid and the banking setups for these sites. Laws in the country concerning online gambling will also be addressed so that, if you are checking in from Germany, you’ll know what to expect.

Top Online Gambling Sites Accepting Players from Germany

The following list displays the very best of the best when it comes to online gambling for German players. We have done the research and come up with the cream of the crop. If you live in Germany and want to get started in the world of internet gambling, these are the best places to start.

When dealing with German gambling sites, you have to understand that the phrase is actually a bit misleading. While there are a few sports books that are allowed to operate in the country, none of the sites that we have included in the list below are actually German websites. But they do allow gamblers from Germany, which is what really matters.

Because German lawmakers and law enforcers don’t actively pursue those players who gamble online with sites that operate outside of the country, there really aren’t any restrictions for players. They can essentially choose the safest, most reputable gambling sites in the world as if they were residents of a country where online gambling was legal.

We advise you to check out these sites for yourself to see which is the right fit. It is important, perhaps for Germans more than citizens of any other countries, to choose their site wisely. After all, since the activity of online gambling is technically illegal by the letter of the law, authorities will not help out any citizen who has an issue with their treatment from a site.

That’s why it crucial to look before you leap in terms of choosing among German gambling sites. Otherwise, you could end up wasting your money on an unsavory site run by scammers. You are much better off sticking with legitimate, established operations.

What Are the Gambling Laws in Germany?

If you are planning to partake in online gambling in Germany, it might be a good idea to take an in-depth look at the laws concerning the activity. That might be the best way for you to feel comfortable with your decision to move ahead.

For the sake of a quick look in this article, however, let’s just say that the laws on online wagering are confusing, to say the least. Like the United States, Germany is comprised of states with their own sets of laws. And, in many cases, these states will enact and enforce laws that could be considered contradictory to the laws of the overarching German government.

At the time of this writing, gambling online within the country of Germany is illegal. But what does that mean? Does that apply to sites trying to establish an online operation in Germany, or to German players who are doing the gambling?

On top of that, there is the fact that Germany is part of the European Union. And there are several countries within the EU where online gambling organizations are legal. Does that mean that German gamblers are OK to gamble there?

What makes it even more confusing is that gambling, as a whole, is legal in the country. Casinos are popular destinations and can be found throughout the country. Sports betting is also popular in the country and perfectly legal at sportsbooks locations.

Meanwhile, certain states have allowed licenses to some gambling operators to operate online in their jurisdictions. That seems to be a direct contradiction of the federal law. It’s enough to make your head spin.

So what does it all mean for the German gambler who wants to play some casino games online or place a sports bet in the same manner? Well, for the most part, you can go ahead and operate without concern. That’s because no prosecutions have ever taken place within the country for those who are trying to gamble online.

At the very worst, there conceivably could come a time when a site might not be allowed to accept money from the country. But, as far as we know, that isn’t the case right now.

And, the way the regulatory winds are blowing within Germany, it seems that a posture of leniency in terms of gambling laws seems to be taking hold. That means that it’s doubtful that the worst-case scenario is in the offing.

If you live in Germany and you want to gamble online, there’s really nothing stopping you. Just make sure to do your research before making the jump to ensure you end up gambling with a trustworthy site.

How Do I Know These Sites You’ve Recommended Are Legit?

It’s natural, even savvy, to think twice before settling on a gambling website. Sites that are reputable and honest are few and far between. Since you’re going to putting real money at stake on these German gambling sites, it’s understandable to be cautious about it.

Rest assured that we insist any online gambling site that we recommend is held to the strictest standards and criteria. You can believe that the sites that we’ve listed all pass muster in these areas, or else they wouldn’t be on this page.

But what if you were to encounter a Germany gambling site on your own that isn’t listed above? Let’s say you want to give it a shot. Well, you should be careful, and you should only commit if the following qualities are proven to be in place:

Customer Service Excellence

You are going to be gambling real money on this site, perhaps large sums of that money. As a result, you need to know that you will have any problems that might come up quickly addressed and solved. Otherwise, you could be left in the lurch.

Look for a site that makes clear its customer service contact information, and it’s ideal if there are several ways to contact them. Make sure that, in their initial dealings with you, they are courteous and professional, without doing too much of a hard sell to get your business. Finally, you should check out the experiences that past customers have had and see if they were positive or negative.

Lucrative Bonus Structure

A German gambling site that doesn’t offer you some sort of bonus for signing on with them is probably not established enough to be trusted. Most legit gambling sites aggressively court players. After all, the competition among gambling sites is intense, and those sites are looking for serious gamblers.

You need to go in with an idea of what you’re looking for in terms of incentives. Perhaps you need that initial deposit boost if you are only planning on gambling occasionally with the site. Or, if you intend to frequent the site with regularity, it might be better for you to have VIP bonuses coming your way.

In any case, make sure that you read the fine print for any bonus that you think might be worthwhile. You don’t want to be disappointed to find that you’re getting less than you expected.

Variety of Betting Options

The best gambling sites for German players are those that offer the widest selection of betting opportunities. Yes, Germany possesses many casinos and sportsbooks. But the benefit of gambling online is that you can do so with the utmost convenience, using your computer, tablet or phone, from wherever you might be located.

Ideally, your site of choice will be a kind of one-stop shop for your gambling needs. That means that it should include every type of casino entertainment, from the various table games to the many brands of slot machines and video poker on the market. It should also give you ample opportunity to bet on many different sports on an international level.

What Deposit Methods Are Available for German Gamblers?

Your banking options for participating in German gambling sites are varied. You really have to see what the site is all about in terms of what they can offer. And, if you’re unfamiliar with the concept of deposits, withdrawals and banking in general for online gambling and you’ll have a good foundation.

Here are some of the more widespread methods for German players:

• Credit Card or Bank Card Payments: This is the most common method of funding for online gambling accounts. When you set up your account with the site that you eventually choose, you will enter all of the pertinent information. You can then deposit funds as you wish for your gambling needs.
• PayPal: The online payment merchant basically removes a step or two from the process, streamlining your online gambling deposits. Obviously, you would need a PayPal account first, which is backed by a credit card or bank card in the first place.
• Cryptocurrency: Not all sites are yet on board with digital coins, but many of the top ones listed above have the ability to accept Bitcoin and other top offerings. Cryptocurrency is well-suited to the online gambling world since it provides extra layers of personal privacy and monetary security. On top of that, it operates beyond all borders, meaning that German gamblers can get access to sites anywhere in the world.

You also have to be aware of withdrawal policies for any site that you find that allows German gamblers to participate. After all, the ability to get your funds back into your hands in a timely fashion is crucial to the online gambling experience. Honest, legit sites will make their withdrawal guidelines clear and will follow them without exception.

Conclusion

If you plan on being a regular online gambler in Germany, you should go into the process with clear eyes about the laws and procedures. German gambling sites, instead of being located within the country, are, for now anyway, those sites around the world that allow Germans to gamble with them.

Gambling In Nazi Germany

But the bottom line is that they are open for business to German gamblers ready to play and win.