German Online Casinos

Online Casinos in Germany: What Does the Future Hold

In 2021, Germany passed legislation that allows operators to apply for a license and offers its services to each player in the country. So, as online gambling is seen as a very popular activity in Germany, it comes as no surprise to see the best online casinos apply for a license there. As is the case with plenty of regulated markets in the world, the future of online gambling in Germany looks very bright. Several factors will contribute to the future of online casinos in Germany:

• Internet penetration – According to some estimates, more than 91% of the German population has access to the internet, which is essential for online gambling.
• Mobile phone penetration – The best German online casinos have mobile-friendly casino sites. So, mobile phone penetration surely contributes towards the development of the sector.
• Technology advances – German casinos don’t rest on their laurels. Instead, they implement the latest technology to attract more players to register. The same can be said about game providers when creating titles for the top online casinos.

All of these reasons mean that nothing stops German online casinos to rise even more in popularity. German players have a lot to look forward to, so the future is indeed bright.

Are Online Casinos Legal in Germany? A Look at German Regulations

As mentioned above, the long-awaited partial liberalisation of German online casinos happened in 2021. That year, the new German Interstate Treaty of Gambling was introduced. It allowed private entities to apply for a license to offer their services to any German player.

However, there are some disadvantages and missing points of the new online gambling legislation in Germany. Namely, online casino games, such as blackjack and roulette, are omitted from the legislation. Only online slots are covered by the new interstate law. Online casino games are left for federal states themselves to control and regulate.

Deposit and Withdrawal Limits at German Online Casinos

Responsible gambling measures are an aspect that any German casino needs to have integrated for all its players. Sites in Germany cannot obtain a license without such information.

However, in the new gambling law in Germany, there is only information regarding deposit limits, The Interstate Treaty says that a deposit limit of €1,000 per month is to be applied by every player when they register an account. As for withdrawals, different online casinos have different limits. For some, the best online casino is the one that has low withdrawal limits, for others, it is the complete opposite.

German Online Casino Licenses

As for obtaining a license to offer online casino services to players, there are several aspects that cover the common requirements:

• Security deposit – The operator must offer a deposit of €5 million when applying for a license.
• Online gambling offerings – If the operator has several sites, all of them need to be run independently. No cross-promoting is allowed.
• Deposit limit – Any player needs to set themselves a monthly €1,000 limit upon registration.
• Slot limit – The maximum wager allowed on slots at German online casinos is €1.
• KYC and verification procedures – These procedures are a necessity when new players register for any online casino in Germany.

Responsible Gambling in Germany

Of course, gambling can be a serious problem for any player that loses control over their activity. Therefore, with the new online gambling law in Germany, online casinos must have solid strategies to protect gamblers from addiction. All operators are required to have a separate section on their sites that will allow players to set limits on their gaming activities.

There are several limits players can use to better control their gaming activity:

• Deposit limits – Players can set a limit of $1,000 per month or lower if they wish so.
• Loss limits – Players can also set loss limits at online casinos in Germany.
• Time out sessions
• Cool off period
• Self-exclusion.

Who to Contact for Gambling Problems

Should any player in Germany feel like their gambling habits have spiralled out of control, they can always contact several organisations to help them out. Gambling might become a problem for certain German players, leading them to get in touch with the German Federal Centre for Health Education and several other private organisations.

All German online casinos are required to place the contact information of such organisations on the homepage of their website so players can get instant help whenever they need it.

Taxation in German Online Casino

With the gambling law of 2021, there is a clear taxation system for all operators active in Germany. Therefore, all online casinos in Germany are subject to a 5.3% tax on the online slot and poker games. At first, online gambling sites in the country criticised the provision, but the climate seems to change now as more and more players dive into online gambling. As for players, of course, all gambling winnings are subject to a tax that they need to report annually.

German Casino Bonuses

We will take a look at the top 5 online casinos in Germany below in this article, but you need to know that all of them feature interesting bonuses and promotions for their players. One of the first things that any player notices in online casinos in Germany is its bonus offer. All of the best online casinos in our list feature different kinds of promotions, so some of the most popular ones among German players are:

• No deposit bonuses – Very popular among players, as they don’t require players to make any deposit. Different sites will make different games eligible for this type of bonus offer.
• Welcome bonuses – All newly registered players at the best online casinos in Germany are eligible for a casino welcome bonus. What type of bonus is offered depends on the online gambling site in question.
• Reload bonuses – This is essentially a deposit bonus where the German online casino will offer a deposit match offer to the players. It can be part of the welcome package, or it can come later in the player’s gaming adventure.
• Free spins – When it comes to free spins, they are essentially a no-deposit bonus that is offered on certain slots. Sometimes, German online gambling sites will partner with a provider to offer free spins for one game.
• Cashback bonuses – Usually, the most loyal casino players will be eligible for a cashback incentive at online casinos. The percentage of the cashback depends on German casinos themselves.
• Birthday bonuses – As the name suggests, casino players will get a birthday bonus on the date they have set as their birthday.
• Referral bonuses – The best online casino sites will reward players who refer the site to their friends.
• Loyalty programs – Finally, loyalty programs are very common at the best German online casinos. There will usually be different levels on the VIP Program that German players will unlock with real money wagers on games.

Bonus Wagering Requirements

All bonuses and promotions at any German online casino have certain terms and conditions that players must look at. A vital part of these terms and conditions are the wagering requirements. Essentially, they let players know how many times they need to play through the bonus before they are able to make a withdrawal. All of the top online casinos in Germany have different wagering requirements for their bonuses, so it is something that players cannot afford to miss checking.

Top Payment Method Choices in German Casinos

Different players have different preferences when it comes to payment methods they use at the best online casinos. Therefore, the best casinos in our list make sure to offer a wide range of payment methods that German players will be able to choose from:

• Credit/debit cards – These are the most widely accepted and used payment methods at the best online casinos in the country. VISA and Mastercard are available at any German online casino site.
• E-wallets – PayPal, Skrill and Neteller are the most commonly used e-wallets at German casino sites by players. Their main advantage is that they offer faster withdrawals than credit/debit cards.
• Bank transfers – If you wish to choose bank transfer as your payment option, you will need to enter your bank routing and account number, then choose a deposit amount, and that’s it. As for instant deposits, you will be able to deposit funds directly from your bank account to your casino account.
• Payment via phones – Google Pay and Apple Pay come as the main options for all players in Germany that wish to make such transactions.

Although it is difficult to say which payment method is the most popular when wagering on casino games in Germany, Giropay is probably the one that stands out. Giropay is easy to use, and more than 80% of German banks are linked to it, so it comes as no surprise to see its popularity.

Casino Games Available in Germany

To get a general idea of how popular online gambling is, you can just search for online casino games on Google, and you will be overwhelmed by the results. There are all types of casino games you can play in German casinos, and we see that as a big positive. So, with that being said, let’s take a closer look at some of the most popular casino games in Germany.

Slots

Let’s start with slots, arguably the most popular category of games in any German casino. There are all sorts of slots that you can choose when registering at any of our recommended sites:

• Classic slots
• Video slots
• Multi-payline slots
• 3D slots

Game providers compete all the time by creating new and exciting slots with stunning graphics and gameplay, so you will surely find several that match your taste.

Table Games

Up next, we have the traditional and ever-present table games. It seems like these games will never go out of fashion, regardless of where they are offered. Therefore, online casinos in Germany make sure to offer tons of table game variations for players to enjoy.

Live Casino Games

Now, let’s have a look at one of the newest types of games at online casinos in Germany – live dealer games. These games are essentially live versions of table games. Their popularity comes from the fact that game providers host these games from studios with real humans acting as dealers. Of course, live casino games are streamed live, so you will surely be in for a thrilling gaming experience.

Table games, such as baccarat and poker, have live dealer versions, with one addition – game shows. Game shows are casino versions of TV Shows, and they combine TV and casino elements perfectly.

Scratch Card Games

If you ever feel like you need a break from all of the above-mentioned games, then you can always change the scenery a bit with scratch card games. These games are also regarded as some of the most interesting casino games you can play. They also go by the name of instant games, and they just require you to reveal hidden symbols and form winning combinations.

Video Poker

Finally, we have video poker, which is a casino game that has been around since the 1970s. Top German casinos have noticed how popular video poker is in the country, so they have made sure to integrate it among other games as well. This is a casino game that is based on a five-card draw poker, but it is played on a console that is very similar to a slot.

Signing Up With a Casino in Germany: A Short Checklist

Top casinos in Germany give you a very exciting way to spend your time. Moreover, imagine winning real money and using them as you see fit. Thousands of new German players register at casino sites every day. However, just because you have a good list of sites to choose from doesn’t mean that you should rush registering. For that reason, let’s see the checklist you need to go through before you sign up.

1. Choose the Right Germany Casino: Not all latest online casinos are ideal for every user, and that is the beauty of the iGaming scene in Germany. You can look forward to a versatile offer when reviewing sites, so you need to make sure that you choose the appropriate site in terms of bonuses, games, licenses, etc.
2. Check the Payment Methods: Some players like credit/debit cards, others are more into e-wallets, and there are some that even prefer cryptocurrencies. The bottom line is that you need to check whether the casino in question has integrated the payment method that suits you.
3. Plan Your Gambling Budget: This is a step that you cannot think to overlook. Gambling addiction can be a serious problem that can occur if you don’t have control over your gambling activities. So, set a monthly/weekly/daily budget limit and never go over it. This is how online betting will remain a nice hobby and nothing more.
4. Read the Terms and Conditions: All online gambling operators in Germany have extensive terms and conditions that users need to go through. There, you will find important information regarding wagering requirements, minimum bets, maximum cashouts, etc.

What to Know About Safety & Security at German Online Casinos

If you have been online, then you surely must be aware that fraudulent sites and cyberattacks happen all the time. As you would imagine, the online casino industry is not immune to that, so you need to be careful where you sign up. However, there are some indicators that will help you see that the site you have chosen is safe and secure:

• License – A valid license from a trusted regulator is a must.
• Data encryption – Sophisticated casino sites have 128-bit or 256-bit encryption.
• RNGs – A Random Number Generator is used to determine the fairness of the casino games.
• Privacy policies – Clear indicators of what the casino intends to do with your personal information.

German Customer Support

All reputable online casinos in the world have customer support in English, but what about German? Well, of course, licensed casino operators in Germany have support available in the country’s native language.

However, you can also look forward to German support at some of the foreign sites you choose to play on. It mainly depends on the geographical focus of the casino in question, but there is no shortage of sites that offer German customer support.

Payment Providers in Germany

Before the legalisation of online casinos in Germany, there were some problems regarding payment providers that players used for online casino games. Namely, credit/debit cards, and PayPal, most notably, were not available for German players. However, the situation changed with the introduction of the new law in 2021. Nowadays, users at online casino sites can enjoy a plethora of payment methods, including VISA, Mastercard, PayPal, Neteller, Skrill, etc.

Conclusion

Overall, big things are coming for the German iGaming market. As any developed country has done in recent years, Germany was quick to see the benefits of a legal online casino market, and players love it. The number of sites that apply for a license in Germany increases every day, so anyone who likes online wagering can look forward to an even better offer in the coming years.