Online Casinos in Germany
Gambling in Germany is governed by the 2012 Interstate Treaty on Gambling Law and the 1922 Race Betting and Lottery Act that was last updated in 2016. Licensing, enforcement and supervision of slot machines are undertaken by local authorities. Sports betting licenses are issues by the Hessian Ministry of the Interior and Sports, horse race betting operating/brokering licences come under the Regional council of Darmstadt and the Regional government of Düsselsorf issues TV and online advertising permits for sports betting and the lotteries. The Ministry of the Interior of Lower Saxony implement payment blocking measures and issues licences for nationwide lottery brokering. Class and cross-state lotteries are managed by the Authorities of the Hamburg and Rhineland-Palatinate.
Legal Online Casinos in Germany
Although online casinos have been banned, thanks to the licences issued by Schleswig-Holstein, Germans can play online at Bet365, Ladbrokes and PokerStars. Players can also access and play games at online casinos that are located and licensed outside of the German border. There are a large number of online casinos available in German that hold licences issued by offshore governments including the UKGC, Malta Gaming Authority and the Curacao Gaming Control Board.
Online Slots Germany
Playing slots is the most popular form of gambling in Germany. Germans are increasing their use of online casinos for their gambling games. This is mainly due to the wide range of games that are on offer from numerous software developers and with many different bonus features. Some of the most played slot games by Germans are Starburst, Gonzo´s Quest and Twin Spin by NetEnt. Immortal Romance and Mega Moolah by Microgaming, Book of Dead by Play´n Go and Bonanza by Big Time Gaming.
Online Casino Games - Germany
The most popular online casino games in Germany are Blackjack, American and French Roulette, Punto Banco and Poker. Although Germans enjoy sitting around a table to play in a land based casino, more and more are turning to online casinos where they can enjoy familiar surroundings whilst playing at table games with live dealers. The Germans also enjoy making wagers on horse racing, sports betting and playing the state lotteries.
Casinos in Germany
There are over 50 Casinos in Germany that are mainly located in resorts of large cities or spa towns. The oldest casino in Germany, the Casino Baden-Baden first opened its doors in 1855, in 1872 it closed until 1933 but closed again in 1944. In 1950 this casino became operational again and is still open today offering American and French Roulette, Blackjack, Poker and Punto Blanco tables alongside a number of slots. The German Casinos are a pleasant mix of exquisite historic buildings and modern glass structures.
The State law dictates the number of casinos that are allowed, in which cities they can be located and the distance from schools. All players have to be over the age of 18 to enter a casino. You can also find slot machines in amusement arcades, restaurants and bars.
German Gambling Laws
in 2008 the Interstate Gambling Treaty (IGT) banned all forms of online gambling in Germany and online gambling providers and German banks were forbidden from doing business with each other. However, in 2012 the Government amended the IGT so that sports betting and online lotteries were removed from the ban. This was a direct result of an intervention from the European Union (EU).
One of the 16 states in Germany, Schleswig-Holstein, created their own Gambling Act in 2012 and issued 6 year licences to over 20 online casinos and 25 sports betting operators. After a change in government, Schleswig-Holstein joined the Interstate Gambling Treaty in 2013, although the licences that they issued remained valid. Horse racing and sports betting are heavily monitored and restricted throughout Germany as are the promotion and sales of state lottery products.
