Germany Online Betting

Online sports betting is legal in Germany for fans 18 and older. The Joint Gambling Authority (Gemeinsamen Glücksspielbehörde der Länder) issues licenses to German betting sites, maintains a whitelist of approved operators, and provides ongoing oversight.

Bettors can continue below for overviews of the best German sports betting sites and safe deposit methods. Additionally, this page provides information about identifying licensed operators and answers to common questions about online betting in Germany. And finally, this page explains Germany sports betting laws in plain terms.

Germany Betting Sites

Germany online sports betting laws approved in 2021 require all sportsbooks to apply for licenses before opening to the public. The GGL has issued licenses to dozens of online bookmakers and casino sites to date, but a handful of operators stand above the rest in terms of overall quality, security, and brand recognition:

• Bet365.de
• 888Sport.de
• Betway.de
• Bwin.de

Bettors can see a complete list of licensed German betting sites here.

22Bet Germany

• Read more: 22Bet Germany

For bettors seeking the best odds and widest range of markets, 22Bet is the best alternative to licensed betting sites. 22Bet operates on a Curaçao license, avoiding the most onerous Germany sports betting taxes and regulations. As a result, 22Bet offers better pricing than other German betting sites. In addition, 22Bet offers wagers on markets other bookmakers can’t due to Germany’s restrictive betting laws.

Equally importantly, 22Bet has a favorable reputation among real customers thanks to its quick payouts, vast range of deposit methods, and superior betting odds. The dated interface doesn’t look particularly appealing at first, but bettors in the market for better odds and more options will find 22Bet attractive.

• Is 22Bet licensed in Germany: No
• Does 22bet support EUR deposits: Yes
• Does 22Bet support the German language: Yes
• 22Bet Germany deposit methods: Credit cards, debit cards, e-wallets, bank transfers, Bitcoin, Ethereum, and multiple other cryptocurrencies

Bet365 Germany

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Bet365 is the most experienced and highly-rated operator among all Germany sports betting sites. The Bet365 brand has maintained an overwhelmingly positive reputation among customers for more than two decades, and it remains one of the best German betting sites for fans of all types.

Some of Bet365’s highlights include an extensive wagering menu, dozens of daily in-play betting events, and the most comprehensive football betting coverage. Additionally, instant deposits and a wide selection of funding methods make it easy to move money to and from Bet365 in Germany.

• Is Bet365 licensed in Germany: Yes
• Does Bet365 support EUR deposits: Yes
• Does Bet365 support the German language: Yes

Bet365 Germany Deposit Methods

Bet365 supports a full range of deposit methods, spanning credit and debit cards, electronic transfers, e-wallets, and cash-based options. Most deposit methods instantly credit customers’ accounts and may be used to withdraw funds.

• Credit cards: €5 to €40,000
• Debit cards: €5 to €40,000
• PayPal: €30 to €8,000
• Sofort: €5 to €2,000
• Paysafecard: €5 to €1,000
• Giropay: €5 to €2,000
• Trustly instant bank transfer: €10 to €6,000
• Payz: €5 to €20,000
• Skrill: €5 to €35,000
• Skrill 1-Tap: €5 to €10,000
• Neteller: €15 to €37,500
• Wire transfer: €100 to €150,000

Germany Online Sports Betting Laws

Germany approved the State Treaty on Gambling (Glücksspielstaatsvertrag or GlüStV 2021) in 2021 to regulate online sports betting, horse racing betting, casino games, and lottery operators.

GlüStV outlines five equally important objectives of the law:

• Prevent and address problem gambling
• Channel gamblers away from black market operators to licensed operators
• Protect minors and adult participants
• Ensure operators conduct online betting “properly,” protect participants from fraud, and deter secondary crimes associated with online gambling
• Protect the integrity of sports

The State Treaty on Gambling introduced a nationwide licensing regime for most forms of online betting in Germany but imposes strict controls on deposit amounts, wager sizes, advertising, and identity verification.

GlüStV 2021 also established the Joint Gambling Authority (Gemeinsamen Glücksspielbehörde der Länder or GGL) to regulate German betting sites, casinos, poker sites, and online horse racing wagering.

The Joint Gambling Authority may order internet service providers and financial institutions to block access to unlicensed betting sites in Germany and block payments related to unauthorized gambling.

However, since the Joint Gambling Authority assumed responsibility for regulating Germany online betting sites, multiple courts have ruled several internet-blocking orders unlawful.

Overall, Germany betting laws tend to lean on the overly restrictive side of the spectrum. As a result, the government still struggles with channeling customers away from black market operators and onto licensed German sports betting sites.

For instance, Germany betting sites may not offer wagers on non-sporting events, such as financial markets and politics. The law also establishes a 5.3% tax on betting handle, which is the equivalent of a massive tax on net revenues, making it difficult for licensed German betting apps to compete with foreign bookmakers.

Additionally, licensed German betting sites may only offer wagering on a specific list of sports and leagues as determined by GGL:

The law provides similar restrictions related to online gambling and poker, including:

• A maximum stake of €1 per spin on slots
• Five-second minimum between slot spins
• No progressive jackpot games
• Poker sites may not allow players to sit at more than four tables at a time

Past Germany Sports Betting Laws

German sports betting laws did not address online betting until 2008. No betting sites operated from within Germany before 2008, but many headquartered in other countries accepted German customers.

The status quo concerned lawmakers, who decided to restrict online betting for the sake of public safety and to combat gambling addiction.

Germany passed the Interstate Treaty on Gaming in 2008 to ban all forms of online gambling in Germany except horse racing betting. The law also granted authorities the right to order financial institutions not to process transactions for German betting sites and order domestic internet service providers to block access to betting sites that accept Germans.

Germany Amends the Interstate Treaty on Gaming in 2012

The European Commission initiated an investigation into German sports betting laws, found them anti-competitive, and asked Germany to amend the law. Lawmakers acquiesced and amended the treaty in 2011. Fifteen of sixteen German states signed the amended treaty in 2012. Only the state of Schleswig-Holstein opted out.

The amended Interstate Treaty on Gaming of 2012 allowed the government to issue up to 20 licenses to online betting sites. Casino games and poker remained prohibited from obtaining licenses. The German online sports betting licenses never materialized because the government delayed the process multiple times.

Schleswig-Holstein Online Betting Licenses

Schleswig-Holstein had other plans in mind when it opted out of the amended treaty in 2012. That year, the state passed its own gaming act, allowing up to 50 licenses to be granted to sites offering online poker, casino games, and sports betting. State authorities issued seven licenses in 2012.

Elections brought a new state government into power a year later, and the state dropped its previous legislation allowing for licenses. Schleswig-Holstein then joined the Interstate Treaty on Gaming.

However, this didn’t happen before seven 6-year licenses went into effect. Instead of rejecting those licenses, the state government let them remain active until late 2018, the end of their six-year terms.

European Commission Rules Against Germany Again

In February 2016, the Court of Justice for the European Union (CJEU) ruled against Germany’s gambling laws. In short, the court found that Germany’s licensing process amounted to the protectionism of the state’s online betting monopoly.

EU officials have called upon Germany to update its betting laws to become compliant with EU agreements. In April 2016, the EU again ruled against Germany’s online gambling laws.

That ruling found that German sports betting laws ran afoul of EU treaties (again), but this time, it also gave online betting sites licensed in other EU nations the ability to offer their services to Germans without legal repercussions.

Eventually, pressure from the European Commission and the government’s realization that its restrictive gambling laws were unenforceable convinced lawmakers to amend the treaty once again and open the market to competition.

Deposit Methods for German Betting Sites

Germany sports betting apps may accept a healthy range of deposit methods, ranging from credit and debit cards to instant bank transfers. Some of the most widespread deposit methods include:

• Credit card
• Debit card
• Neteller
• Sofortüberweisung by Skrill
• PayPal
• Skrill
• Paysafecard

Germany Horse Racing Betting

Online horse racing betting is legal and regulated in Germany. The GGL has issued licenses to the following operators to offer pari-mutuel horse racing wagering to Germans 18 and older:

• Racebets.de
• Trotto.de
• Wettstar-pferdewetten.de
• Onextwo.de
• Pferdewetten-jaxx.de
• Pferdewetten.de
• Lotos-wetten.de

Online horse racing betting in Germany is regulated by the Race Betting and Lottery Act of 1922 and provisions in the Interstate Treaty of 2021. Regulators may issue horse racing licenses to authorized online sportsbooks and horse racing associations, but interest in such licenses remains low due to burdensome and costly regulations.

Responsible Gambling in Germany

Responsible gambling is a central theme of Germany’s online betting laws. In addition to rules regarding deposit limits and operators’ responsible gambling duties, Germany’s central regulator provides information, preventive education, and resources for those who need help with responsible gambling.

Germans can visit the state coordination centers for gambling addiction website for information, a self-assessment, live chat help, telephone advice, in-person advice, and more:

• bundesweit-gegen-gluecksspielsucht.de

Other problem gambling resources in Germany include:

• Gambling Addiction Association
• DigiSucht Information and Help
• Federal Center for Health Education
• Central Office for Addiction Issues
• State Offices for Addiction Issues

Bettors can also call the problem gambling hotline for information and support: 0800 1 37 27 00.

Additionally, bettors can enter the OASIS voluntary self-exclusion program to restrict themselves from participating in any form of legal gambling in Germany. Read more and apply here:

• OASIS Self-Exclusion FAQ and Request Form

Germany Online Betting FAQ