Alex Vasile has an iGaming background with over five years working in Support and Account / VIP management. He is also an experienced writer covering topics related to gambling legislation and jurisdictions, casino bonuses and wagering requirements and casino games rules.
, | Updated: September 30, 2024
Germany has a stable economy and a population of over 84 million. Although Germany is synonymous with order, its legal landscape of online gambling is quite complex because there are 16 states, and each has the right to craft its own gambling laws.
Germany is one of the least liberal EU countries as far as gambling operations are concerned. For years, gambling was illegal in the Federal Republic of Germany under the Interstate Treaty on Gambling (or Glücksspielstaatsvertrag).
Following EU recommendations, German lawmakers had a change of heart and started supporting the idea of regulating the gambling market. In March 2020, the Fourth Interstate Treaty on Gambling was approved, paving the way for operators to apply for online gambling licenses.
Casino Sites in Germany
For years, foreign operators were not allowed to obtain licenses and provide online gambling services to German players. However, this did not stop gambling sites licensed in other EU countries from accepting casino enthusiasts from Germany and even offering them lucrative casino bonuses. Moreover, German players were not prosecuted and penalized for gambling online.
In 2021, things took another turn with the passage of the Fourth Interstate Treaty, allowing private operators to provide their services on German soil. Here are some of the most trustworthy web-based casinos that cater to the needs of players from Germany.
18+ and of legal age to gamble. First deposit only. $20 Min deposit. Max bonus 1 BTC or currency equivalent. First deposit free spins are added as a set of 50 per day for 2 days, amounting to 100 free spins in total. The first 50 free spins are added immediately after a successful activation of the bonus. The next 50 free spins are added in 24 hours. Winnings obtained with the help of free spins have a x40 wagering requirement. All deposit bonuses must be wagered at least 40 times before the player can withdraw the winnings received through them. General Bonus Terms & Conditions must be observed.
New customers only. Min £10 deposit. 100% up to £50 in Bonus. Neteller/Skrill excl. Max. bonus £50. Wagering 40x on bonus amount within 30 days. Bonus max bet £5. Spins paid 10/day on Book of Dead and valid for 24 hours. Game weighting and T&C apply.
18+ Full T&C's Apply. New players Only. £10 min deposit. £5 max bet using bonus. 60x (40x referred player) wagering applies. Bonus valid for 14 days. 20 Spins on Starburst will be credited instantly + then 20 per day for 9 days. Free Spins valid for 72 hours from credit. Max Free Spins winnings £100. Ewallets excluded. - www.begambleaware.org
18+ Full T&C's Apply. New players Only. £10 min deposit. £5 max bet using bonus. 60x (40x referred player) wagering applies. Bonus valid for 14 days. 30 Spins will be credited instantly upon qualifying deposit + then 30 per day for 9 days on pre-selected games. Free Spins valid for 72 hours from credit. Max Free Spins winnings £100. Ewallets excluded. - www.begambleaware.org
18+ Full T&C's Apply. New players Only. £10 min deposit. £5 max bet using bonus. 40 x wagering applies. Bonus valid for 14 days. Minimum £5 wager to activate 200 Spins. 20 Spins on Starburst will be credited per day for 10 days after qualifying deposit/wager is met. Free Spins valid for 72 hours from credit. Max Free Spins winnings £100. Skrill + Neteller excluded. Always refer to Bonus Terms - www.begambleaware.org
New customers only. £10 min deposit. Bonus 100% up to £100. 35x bonus wager in 30 days. Skrill, Neteller, PaySafe excluded. Game weighting and terms apply.
New customers only. Opt in is required. 1st deposit only. Bonus expires 7 days from issue. Min €20 deposit. Max Bonus €100. 35x Wagering. Max redeemable €2,000. Player, country, currency, game restrictions and terms apply.
Opt in required. Available 1x per customer. First deposit only. Minimum £10 deposit. Maximum £300 bonus. 40x wagering. Bonus expires 7 days from issue. New customers to casino page only. Player, currency, country, game restrictions & terms apply.
18+. New customers only. 10 Free Spins on registration and mobile verification (UK ONLY) | 100% deposit match up to £200/$300. Available on selected Games only. 7-day expiry on Bonus. 40x wagering (max bet £/$5) before Bonus Balance can be withdrawn. Wagering is with real money first. Game contribution weightings apply to wagering requirements. £/$10 min deposit + 2.5% fee (min 50p/75c). Not available using Neteller or Skrill. Cash balance withdrawable anytime + £2.50/$3.75 fee. Full T&C apply.
18+. Minimum deposit £10. Only real money wagering with minimum 1.80 odds qualifies for the promotion. Bonus bet stake is not included in any winnings and winnings are paid in cash. Bonus bets are valid for 7 days and cannot be split. Additional T&C apply.
18+ New Customers only. Min deposit $20. Max bonus $5000. EXCLUSIVE: Up to 25% Rakeback on each bet! Instant, Weekly, and Monthly Rakeback. No wagering requirements. No upper limits on the Rakeback amount. The Rakeback percentage depends on the Rakeback reward level.
This bonus comes with a 35X wagering requirement (Slots and Keno Only), based on the amount of your deposit plus bonus, and no limits on how much you are allowed to withdraw. Bonus amount is non-cashable and will be removed from the amount of your withdrawal request. You must play all spins before switching games. Free spins have 5x additional wagering requirements and no added restrictions on withdrawal. Unless noted, standard rules apply.
This bonus comes with a 30X wagering requirement (60X for table games and video poker), based on the amount of your deposit plus bonus, and no limits on how much you are allowed to withdraw. Bonus amount is non-cashable and will be removed from the amount of your withdrawal request. You must play all spins before switching games. Free spins have 5x additional wagering requirements and no added restrictions on withdrawal. Unless noted, standard rules apply.
This bonus comes with a 30X wagering requirement (60X for table games and video poker), based on the amount of your deposit plus bonus, and no limits on how much you are allowed to withdraw. Bonus amount is non-cashable and will be removed from the amount of your withdrawal request. You must play all spins before switching games. Free spins have 5x additional wagering requirements and no added restrictions on withdrawal. Unless noted, standard rules apply.
300% Signup Bonus comes with 30X Playthrough (60X Table Games and Video Poker) and 10 times Maximum Cash-Out. Deposit $30 or more. Bonus is Non Cashable.
18+. New customers only. 30x Deposit + Bonus wagering requirement. 10 days expiration time. €5 max bet. Deposits made with Skrill and Neteller do not qualify for this promotion.
18+. New customers only. 40x Bonus wagering requirement. 14 days expiration time. LOKI100 bonus code. The Free Spins can be played only on Prince of the Sky Slot.
18+. New customers only. 30x Deposit + Bonus wagering requirement. 7 days expiration time. €5 max bet. No wagering requirements on free spins winnings.
18+. New customers only. 30x Deposit + Bonus wagering requirement. 10 days expiration time. €5 max bet. Deposits made with Skrill and Neteller do not qualify for this promotion.
New Players Only. Wagering occurs from real balance first. 50X wagering the bonus or any winnings generated from free spins. Contribution may vary per game. Available on selected games only. The wagering requirement is calculated on bonus bets only. Bonus is valid for 30 days / Free spins valid for 7 days from issue. Max conversion: 3 times the bonus amount or from free spins: £/$/€20.
18+ New customers only. Spins valued at €0.25 for deposits of less then €100 and €1.25 for deposits of €100 or more. 35x Bonus wagering. Winnings from spins are wager free.
18+. New customers only. Minimum deposit €10. First deposit matched 100% up to €100 + 100 Spins on Starburst. Second deposit matched 50% up to €150 + 100 Spins on Berryburst. Third deposit matched 125% up to €250 + 100 Spins on Aloha: Cluster Pays. 35x Bonus wagering applies. Only slots contribute towards wagering requirements. Deposits made with Skrill and Neteller do not qualify. Free spins credited 20/day for 5 days.
18+ New Customers only. 100% up to €300 and 50 free spins on Turn your Fortune. Expiration: 3 days for free spins winnings / 7 days for bonus amount. 10x D + 25x B wagering requirement.
New players must deposit at least $25 for the first time. They need to use promo codes NEWONE, NEWTWO and NEWTHREE in their respective order to enjoy First, Second and Third Deposit Bonuses.
150% match bonus and 150 free spins on players’ first deposit and 50% match bonus of up to 1 BTC on their second, third, and fourth deposits. 60x wagering for 1st deposit bonus and 50x for the rest. 30 Days expiration time.
18+ New customers only. 110% up to 1BTC 1st deposit bonus. 55% up to 1BTC 2nd deposit bonus. 50% up to 2BTC 3rd deposit bonus. 40x D+B wagering required. Each bonus is valid for 30 days.
Players must deposit at least £/€/$10 and they will receive a 100% Match Bonus instantly in their accounts. Before a withdrawal, players must meet the bonus wagering requirements of 40x bonus amount within 90 days.
18+ New customers only. €10 min deposit. First deposit bonus 100% up to €100 + 100 Free Spins. Second deposit bonus 50% up to €200 + 50 Free Spins. Third deposit bonus 75% up to €200 + 75 Free Spins. High-roller bonus 50% up to €2,000. 40x wagering applies. 5 days expiration time for each bonus.
18+ New customers only. Min deposit €25. 30x Wagering. Bonuses are cashable after the completion of the wagering. Maximum bets with bonuses are restricted to €7.50. Bonus terms and conditions apply.
18+. New players only. One offer per player. Min Dep €10. Max bonus bet €5. 1st Dep offer is 100% up to €100 + 25 Bonus spins on Gonzo’s Quest & Starburst. Spins expire after 10 days, funds after 30 days. Bonus funds separate to Cash. Wager Req of 35x Deposit + Bonus apply. Terms Apply. BeGambleAware.org.
18+. New players only. 1 bonus offer per player. Min. deposit £20. Max. bonus bet is £5. Bonus spins on selected games only and must be used within 72 hours. Bonus funds expire in 30 days, unused bonus funds will be removed. Bonus funds are 200% match up to £500 on your 1st deposit, 25% match up to £1000 on your 2nd deposit, and 50% match up to £500 on your 3rd deposit. Bonus funds are separate to Cash funds, and are subject to 35x wagering the total bonus, cash & bonus spins. Terms apply. BeGambleAware.
18+. New players only. One bonus offer per player. Minimum deposit £20 Max bonus bet is £5 Bonus spins on selected games only and must be used within 72 hours. Bonus funds must be used within 30 days otherwise any unused bonus shall be removed. Bonus funds are 100% match up to £300 on your 1st deposit,50% match up to £250 on your 2nd deposit, and 100% match up to £250 on your 3rd deposit. Bonus funds are separate to Cash funds, and are subject to 35x wagering the total bonus, cash & bonus spins. Terms apply. BeGambleAware.
18+ New customers only. Min deposit €10. 35x wagering applies to the bonus amount and 40x of winnings from the Free Spins.
Best Casino Bonuses for German Players
The online gambling industry is highly competitive, and all gambling sites that want to grow their customer base offer various no deposit casino bonuses. Casino promotions will maximize your winning potential and add a healthy dose of excitement to your gambling sessions. Web-based casinos treat their registrants to tasty promotions from the get-go.
Welcome Bonus
No Deposit Bonuses
Reload Bonus
VIP Bonus
Welcome Bonus
German players who join a web-based casino will have the opportunity to claim a Welcome Bonus, which is usually a combination of a match deposit bonus and free spins. In other words, the casino operator will match your first deposit by a certain percentage up to a maximum amount.
No Deposit Bonuses
Some gambling sites offer no deposit bonuses that casino enthusiasts can claim as soon as they register. No deposit bonuses allow players to try the games on offer and win some money. Note that casino operators impose a cap on the maximum withdrawal winnings generated from the no deposit bonus. Players may be required to fund their gambling balances before cashing out their profits.
Reload Bonus
If you have deposited at least once at a particular web-based casino, you may be eligible for a reload bonus. Reload bonuses consist of a match deposit bonus and free spins. Generally speaking, they work in the same way as Welcome Bonuses.
VIP Bonus
Operators often offer loyalty schemes to reward the most active casino fans. Players are awarded comp points for placing real-money bets. The pace at which comp points are collected depends on the games you play. Casino enthusiasts can redeem their comp points for bonus cash. Some VIP schemes also include different levels. As you collect more comp points, you can unlock a higher VIP level.
VIP players may also enjoy exclusive bonuses, birthday gifts, higher withdrawal limits, cashback promotions, etc. Cashback bonuses provide casino fans with the opportunity to recover a percentage of the losses they have incurred over a period of time.
Before claiming a casino bonus, you must familiarize yourself with its terms of use.
For many years, Germany’s laws were highly restrictive regarding online gambling. In 2008, the Interstate Treaty on Gambling (ISTG) was enacted in an attempt to block the access of German players to foreign online casinos. The government also prohibited banking institutions from processing gambling-related transactions.
Initially, all 16 states joined the Interstate Treaty. But the European Union scolded Germany for its strict rules, explaining that the country’s gambling laws violate the rules for free trading. As a result, Germany’s lawmakers had to amend the Interstate Treaty and regulated the online sports betting market.
But this time, one of the states, namely Schleswig-Holstein, did not sign the amended Interstate Treaty and decided to regulate online gambling. The Gambling Act was passed in September 2011, allowing foreign casino operators to apply for licenses to provide casino games, poker, and sports betting online to casino enthusiasts from Germany. Over 30 operators managed to obtain licenses.
The decision to regulate online gambling has faced some criticism. As a result, the state’s government was changed in 2012, which had a negative impact on the industry because the new government decided to join the Interstate Treaty. However, operators who have already acquired a license were allowed to continue accepting players from Schleswig-Holstein until their licenses expire.
In 2015, new amendments were introduced to the Interstate Treaty. The pivotal point for online gambling came in March 2020 when legislators from all German federal states consented to regulate online casino gambling and poker.
The new Interstate Treaty on Gambling came into effect on July 1, 2021. Although Germany finally liberalized its online gambling market, the new Interstate Treaty on Gambling includes many restrictions to protect players from gambling addiction.
Regulatory Requirements for Casino Operators
Regulatory Requirements for Casino Operators
Operators who want to enter the German market will face plenty of restrictions. They must establish a cross-operator maximum deposit limit of €1,000. Besides, casino operators must allow registrants to set a daily, weekly, or monthly deposit and loss limit.
A limit of €1 per spin is imposed on all slots. Moreover, there should be a minimum spin duration of five seconds. Besides, slots should not have an autoplay function or offer progressive jackpots. The new Interstate Treaty on Gambling distinguishes between table games and slots, suggesting that these products must be offered separately.
The maximum number of online casino licenses awarded to operators should not exceed the number of land-based casinos within a state. Besides, casino fans can join up to 4 table games simultaneously. Currently, there are no licenses for video poker.
Moreover, operators are not allowed to accept players registered with another provider. Licensees must implement an automated system detecting players at risk of gambling addiction. The Interstate Treaty also stipulates that operators must employ specific procedures to ensure that minors and suspended casino fans are not participating in gambling activities.
The Interstate Treaty’s objective is to prevent German casino fans from playing at unlicensed web-based casinos and prohibits financial institutions from processing transactions to and from unauthorized gambling sites. That being said, Germany introduced a ban on credit card gambling. The Interstate Treaty also includes restrictions on gambling advertising and affiliate marketing. Gambling commercials are prohibited from 6 am to 9 pm.
Operators can obtain licenses to provide sports betting services from the Regional Council in Darmstadt in the State of Hesse. The liberalization of the online gambling market called for the creation of a regulator. As a result, the Joint Gambling Authority of the Federal States, die Glücksspielbehörde, was established and has been in operation since July 1, 2022.
Germany liberalized its online gambling market in March 2020. Since July 2021, German players from all states can legally gamble online. At the moment, eight businesses and eleven brands hold licenses issued by the Sachsen-Anhalt state, with Mernov, Tipwin, and Mybet being the first to enter the German market.
Casino enthusiasts from Germany can revel in an exciting gambling experience without worrying about their safety. All German-friendly gambling sites utilize sophisticated SSL encryption to protect players’ sensitive credentials. However, German players must ensure that the casino they are playing at holds a valid license from the Joint Gambling Authority of the Federal States.
Web-based casinos accepting players from Germany usually offer various payment methods to correspond to everyone’s preferences. Popular banking methods available to players from Germany are Neteller, Skrill, Giropay, Paysafecard, and Sofort. Deposits are usually processed instantly. Most casino operators do not charge German players for topping up their gambling balances. Casino aficionados should know that some gambling sites restrict Skrill and Neteller payments from bonus offers.
Most web-based casinos that accept players from Germany support various currencies. However, players are recommended to use Germany’s official currency, which is EUR, to avoid currency conversion fees. Some gambling sites even allow casino fans to use various cryptocurrencies to top up their accounts. Note that some online casinos do not allow players to change their account currency.
In the third quarter of 2022, Germany’s gambling tax revenue reached €596.1 million, and €123.2 million came from online slots. Thus, we have grounds to claim that slots are the most popular games among casino fans residing in Germany. Tax revenue generated from online poker for Q3 of 2022 was €8.0 million. Other popular casino games include blackjack, roulette, and baccarat.