Germany
Author: Niklas Eriksen
Last Updated: 19 November, 2024
Since the legalization of online sports betting in 2021, sports betting operators can now apply for licenses from the Joint Gambling Authority to welcome German customers to their sportsbooks. Around 30 legal betting sites and apps are available within the country.
🇩🇪 Legal sports betting apps in Germany:
18+. New customers only. T&Cs apply. Please gamble responsibly.
18+. New customers only. T&Cs apply. Please gamble responsibly.
18+. Only for new customers from Germany. T&Cs apply. Opt-in required. After signing up, deposit 10€ or more, and place at least a €10 first wager within seven days of registering. If this first wager loses, you'll receive a free bet worth their stake, up to a maximum of €100.
18+. New customers only. T&Cs apply. €10 free bet is rewarded after account verification. The minimum first deposit required for claiming the Joker Bet is €10. The deposited amount must be wagered once within seven days. The Joker Bet can be activated from the betting slip.
18+. New German customers only. €5 free bet is awarded after the account is verified. The free bet includes minimum odds limit of 1.40, and max winnings cap of €250. The minimum deposit requirement for claiming the bonus: €10. Wagering requirement: 8X in 90 days (with min. odds of - single bets: 2.00, combo bets: 1.40 per selection).
18+. New German customers only. The €5 free bet is credited to your account immediately after verification. The minimum deposit requirement for the welcome bonus: €1. Wagering requirement: 8X with at least 2.00 odds. T&Cs apply.
18+. T&Cs apply. Please gamble responsibly.
18+. New German customers only. The minimum deposit requirement: €10. Max bonus of €100 is claimable with €67 first deposit. Wagering requirement: 6X in 90 days with min. odds of 2.00. T&Cs apply.
18+. New German customers only. Wagering requirement: 5X in 30 days. Wagering min. odds requirements - single bets: 2.00, multibets: 1.80 per selection. T&Cs apply. Please gamble responsibly.
18+. New German customers only. Minimum deposit required: €10. Max bonus: €100. Use bonus code WELCOMEBONUS on the first deposit to claim the offer. Wagering requirement: 5X with at least 1.50 odds. T&Cs apply.
18+. New German customers only. The minimum deposit requirement: €10. The maximum bonus of €100 is claimable with €200 first deposit. Wagering requirement: 7X in 14 days with min. odds of 1.80. T&Cs apply.
18+. New customers only. T&Cs apply. Please gamble responsibly.
Online sports betting in Germany - Legal but rigidly regulated
As one of Europe's largest countries by population, it's genuinely no surprise that Germany's betting scene is also enormous, estimated as the second largest in Europe, right topping the Italian betting scene on this list and only trailing the United Kingdom. However, due to the quite confusing legal status of all online betting and gambling and stringent restrictions related to gambling licenses, the country hasn't yet been able to tap into the full potential of its betting landscape.
In 2008, the government's initial approach to regulating the gambling industry leaned more towards restriction and limiting access rather than openness and freedom. For example, the country implemented a strict prohibition on online gambling activities, a policy that persisted until recently. Unfortunately, this created a significant black market, and many German players used unlicensed websites to wager on their favorite sports.
The federal states changed all this in 2021 and created a tightly regulated, safer industry. The Interstate Treaty on Gambling, known as the ITG 2021, outlined a vision for the future of sports gambling and online casinos in the country. Today, German bettors can wager through licensed desktop sites and mobile betting apps, and the whole GER gambling scene is expected to open and grow steadily during the following years.
However, the black sports betting market is still going strong within Germany, and according to the most recent studies, almost 50% of all online gambling among Germans happens on unlicensed platforms as these illegal betting sites are widely accessible from Germany without a VPN, offer services in German, and accept German documents during registration. In addition, multiple restrictions, including in-play betting bans, keep driving bettors toward these unlicensed operators.
Thus, a more open online gambling market is truly in demand in Germany.
Sports betting legislation in Germany
| Is online sports betting legal in Germany? | Yes |
| Is in-person sports betting legal? | Yes |
| Is daily fantasy sports legal? | No |
| Is horse racing betting legal? | Yes |
| Is political betting legal? | No |
| Is eSports betting legal? | No |
| How many legal sports betting apps are there in Germany? | +30 |
| Legal age for sports betting in Germany? | 18+ |
| Germany's tax rate for betting/gambling winnings | 5% (per stake) |
| Who regulates sports betting in Germany? | Joint Gambling Authority (GGL) |
All legal online sports betting in Germany must occur on sportsbooks with a license from the gambling authority, the German Federal States' Joint Gambling Authority (GGL). From the start of 2023, this new authority has been overseeing all online sports betting and casino activities within the country. At the moment, GGL has whitelisted a total of 38 betting operators, allowing them to accept wagers from Germans legally.
German sports betting legislation journey and the current regulatory framework are both fascinating and confusing. Overall, the country's betting market is one of the strictest in Europe, as there are tons of restrictions and limitations placed on operators. For example, live betting is completely illegal in Germany, and as eSports isn't considered a sport in the country, eSports betting is also banned.
But the weird limitations do not stop there. Betting on rugby is legal in the Olympics, but wagering is prohibited during the Rugby Europe Championships or national games. Similarly, soccer betting on friendlies is generally restricted except for those involving Germany. All these kinds of weird limitations truly drive bettors towards the black market betting operators.
In addition, in May 2023, GGL classified daily fantasy sports as an illegal form of gambling, which means such services are not available anymore in Germany.
Recent updates from the German sports betting scene
November 5, 2024: The German Sports Betting Association (DSWV) criticizes a documentary for falsely suggesting Germans can bet on domestic amateur sports via licensed EU operators. The DSWV argued the program omitted key facts, such as geolocation technology preventing cross-border betting and the inability to claim winnings without identity verification. It claimed the documentary misled viewers by implying such wagers were easily accessible.
July 26, 2024: The EU Court will decide if German bettors can reclaim losses from unlicensed bets, as operators like Tipico were stuck in a bureaucratic process and didn't receive licenses from 2012 to 2020. The German Federal Court of Justice has referred the case to the European Court of Justice, causing delays. Many gamblers seek compensation, arguing their bets were invalid without proper licensing.
July 5, 2024: The host side, Germany, is eliminated from the Euro 2024 tournament after a 2-1 quarter-final defeat against the eventual European Champions Spain. Mikel Merino scored the go-ahead winning goal for Spain in the dying seconds of the extra-time.
June 14, 2024: UEFA Euro 2024 tournament begins in Germany, and the host country wins the opening match after hammering Scotland 5-1. The hosts are currently among the top frontrunners to win the European Championship with odds +425.
June 13, 2024: GGL expects the UEFA Euro 2024 tournament to heavily increase betting activity within the country and warns Germans on wagering on unlicensed, illegal sports betting platforms, deeming such actions punishable and harmful.
All legal gambling options in Germany
| Are online casinos legal in Germany? | Yes |
| Are retail casinos legal? | Yes |
| Are social casinos legal? | Yes |
| Is online poker legal? | Yes |
| Is the lottery legal? | Yes |
The gambling laws in Germany are strict and have caused tons of criticism from both online sportsbooks and casino operators. In this iGaming field, the regulation imposes strict limits, including a €1,000 monthly deposit cap and a €1 stake limit on casino slots, affecting all players regardless of income.
In addition, the operators face challenges due to rules on the website and game design causing delays for players, such as enforced wait times and spin delays. The amount of online casino slots available for Germans is also much smaller than in other countries due to the lack of a proper licensing system for B2B suppliers. Critics argue that these restrictions undermine trust in regulated platforms and push players towards unregulated options.
However, in a nutshell, all gambling and iGaming types are generally available in Germany in at least some form.
Other gambling-related news & stories from Germany
October 15, 2024: A Swiss payment provider is banned from processing transactions for unlicensed gambling operators in Germany. The Halle Administrative Court upheld the regulator GGL's decision, bolstering efforts to combat illegal gambling activities.
September 25, 2024: Germany's gambling regulator, GGL, reported receiving 1,500 tips about online gambling since January 2023, with half concerning illegal operators and the rest involving irregularities at licensed providers. The GGL praised public cooperation in identifying issues.
September 18, 2024: Schleswig-Holstein becomes the first German state to license commercial operators for online live casino and table games, and Tipico, BluBet, Cashpoint, and Skill on Net received licenses to legally operate online casino games in the state.
September 5, 2024: Google updates its Gambling and Games policy in Germany, requiring gambling advertisers to obtain certification from the national regulator, GGL. The policy, effective 25 September 2024, aligns with Germany's evolving gambling laws.
September 3, 2024: Germany’s Gambling Authority (GGL) has launched a plan to enhance collaboration with state offices addressing gambling addiction, aiming to improve communication and support across agencies.
Germany - Some commonly asked questions (FAQ)
What kind of restrictions are there regarding sports betting in Germany?
Sports betting is legal in Germany if you just wager on legal online sportsbooks that carry a proper license issued by the German Gambling Authority (GGL). However, for example, in-play betting is still illegal in the country.
How profitable has legalized sports betting been for Germany?
The legal online gambling market generated around €4.8bn in tax revenue for Germany in 2023. The largest tax income junks came from lotteries and slot machines, as sports betting alone totaled €409M in taxes.
What sports do Germans bet on the most?
Data gathered around sports betting activities in Germany shows that soccer is by far the most popular sport in the country in terms of wagers placed. Horse racing, tennis, and basketball are some of the other standouts.
How much do Germans gamble illegally?
Despite having a regulated gambling market, Germans still choose to gamble on illegal offshore betting sites very frequently, as around 50% of the country's gambling activity still occurs on this black market.
