German Casino
Around half of Germany’s casinos are state-owned while the other half are run by private enterprises.
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- German Casino Regulations
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Online casino games are currently prohibited, however state prime ministers have approved a new interstate treaty which would licence online casino gaming from Summer 2021.
Under the terms of the that treaty, licenses for internet table games would be limited to exactly the number of land-based licenses available in each state. Authorisations for online virtual slots will be available in an unlimited number on a nationwide basis.
Facts About the German Casino Market. While online gambling may not yet have been legalised in all of Germany, gambling is hugely popular across the country. In 2017, more than 75% of people answered that they had gambled at some point in their life as part of a major survey. All German casino players can make instant deposits using international casino payment methods like Neteller, Skrill, or Paysafecard. These options will always be suggested as favorites in the banking section of any online casino in Germany. MuchBetter seems to be also getting quite the hype lately.
Although Germany carries some of the highest gaming tax burdens in Europe, it is still the fourth highest earner in terms of revenue in the continent.
Despite this high rate, In December 2019 the European Commission opened an investigation into whether public casino operators had received state aid due to their special tax status.
The inquiry is ongoing, but in a worse case scenario German states would need recover the state aid they have already paid out.
However, similar cases brought against North Rhine-Westphalia over its concession procedures were thrown out by the Commission in 2019.
Another ongoing EU investigation is looking into whether North Rhine-Westphalia’s annual loss compensation payments and capital injection in 2015 granted in favour of WestSpiel, the state-owned casino operator, gave the company an unfair advantage over its competitors in the region.
In recent years German casinos have also had to wrestle with smoking bans, restrictions on advertising, more stringent ID verification processes and the denial of ATM cash access for players, along with new identification requirements to combat money laundering.
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Germans have a love for gambling, exhibited by the fact that they are one of the largest gambling markets in the world. That’s why it is baffling that Germany has such restrictive laws regarding online casinos and other gambling sites.
Presently, online gambling in almost every form is banned in Germany, and those methods that are legal under the law are not available because the government hasn’t seen fit to issue licenses. These restrictions haven’t stopped Germans from gambling online and playing the games they love. Read our guide to German online casinos to learn how you can legally enjoy slots, blackjack, roulette, and other casino games.
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Famous German Online Gamblers
Several of the top German poker players got their start playing poker online and some such as Fedor Holz continue to play online on a regular basis. Players such as Dominik Nitsche, Christoph Vogelsang, and even 2011 WSOP Main Event Champion Pius Heinz all started playing online and went on to become superstars in the live game.
Learn more about Germany’s online gambling laws, the types of online gambling sites available and how to stay safe while gambling online.
German Online Gambling Laws
Online gambling in Germany is subject to the Interstate Treaty on Gambling (IGT) that was passed in October 2011. Under the IGT, 20 sportsbooks were allowed to apply for licenses, but the law explicitly bans online casinos and online poker rooms.
Presently, the only forms of online gambling permitted under German law are sports betting (with licensed providers), online horse betting and online lottery sales. Online poker is not allowed in Germany because courts have ruled poker as a game of chance and not skill. As such, it’s only available in live casinos.
Schleswig-Holstein passed the Gaming Reform Act (GRA) in 2011 and from January 2012 to February 2013 issued 48 licenses for online casino and online sports betting operations. However, the parliament decided to repeal the law in part due to conflicting with the Interstate Treaty. Since February 2013, Schleswig-Holstein has acceded to the Interstate Treaty.
German Casino Regulations
Online gambling in Germany is a sticky subject because presently there are no licensed bodies permitted to offer sports betting, horse betting or online lottery. As such, online gambling is still illegal.
However, the Courts of Justice of the European Union issued an unusual ruling in 2016 stating that German authorities are not permitted to penalize or restrict international online betting sites, even if they do not hold a German license.
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What this means is that while online gambling is technically illegal in Germany, the government cannot legally prosecute you for gambling online.