Online Casinos in Germany

Author: Steven D. Thompson

Updated: 11/11/2024 11:21 AM

Germany is one of the most sought-after gambling markets in Europe. The demand is high and German casinos are no strangers to offering their services to the locals. To help you have the best experience, Betpack is there to help you find the top online casinos in the country and share other details such as their legality, bonuses, payment methods, and much more.

Table of Contents

Online Casino Regulation in Germany

Gambling websites have been legal and regulated since 2021, thanks to the new regulations in Germany's Interstate Treaty on Gambling. These new regulations on this treaty have been brought as in response to the growing popularity of German casino sites. The government sought an answer to the rising threat of illegal casinos. Back then, the Gemeinsame Glücksspielbehörde der Länder was also established to oversee the industry and hand out licences to casinos that met certain criteria.

All of the top German casinos that receive these licences can operate for five years in the country under strict regulations. The road towards legalisation took some time and it's safe to say that the industry hasn't been as lenient as it is today. Here are some of the changes the online gambling scene went through in Germany:

Early 2000s: Many online casinos started opening their virtual doors.
2008: German authorities introduce a total ban on all forms of online gambling via the new Interstate Treaty. The only state that doesn't sign the treaty is Schleswig-Holstein.
2012: Amends to the Interstate Gambling Treaty lead to the creation of online lotteries. Around 20 offshore sports betting sites are also greenlit to offer their services to German players.
2020: A new amendment to the Interstate Treaty is announced. All states agree to it and the changes are set to regulate online gambling.
2021: The new treaty is signed and that marks the official start of the online gambling industry in Germany. The Gemeinsame Glücksspielbehörde der Länder is formed and all valid gambling licences are issued by this authority. That means casino sites have a legal right to offer their services to German casino players.
2023: New amendments allow operators to apply for online poker licences and horse racing/sports betting licences.

In summary, online casinos and other gambling operators can apply for licences that allow them to operate legally within Germany under strict regulations. Offshore casinos, on the other hand, are not subject to German regulatory oversight. These offshore casinos are not licenced by German authorities, and thus, they operate in a legal grey area. That means there are many offshore casinos that accept German players, but it's best to stick to the ones that have a valid licence from a trusted regulator.

Introduction to Online Casinos in Germany

Thanks to the fact that online casinos in Germany are legal, players can enjoy real money games. They can do so via desktop or a mobile web browser. In order to play games and claim online casino bonuses in Germany, you need to be at least 18.

Gambling laws in Germany are very strict. They have a huge focus on preventing gambling addiction. That's why the country has introduced several forms of limits:

Maximum monthly deposit limits of €1,000 for players.
€1 stake limit per betting round for players.
5-second delays on online slots to slow down the pace of play and reduce the risk of addiction.
Live sports betting is prohibited.

These limitations can be useful for forcing responsible gambling and helping you find secure platforms. On these sites, you can safely explore a variety of payment methods, including debit cards, e-wallets, cryptocurrencies, and more. You can take advantage of various bonuses and game selections, which we will discuss in depth.

How to Start Playing at Online Casinos in Germany

The process of starting to play at legit and licenced online casinos in Germany is very simple. You just need to complete four steps.

Step 1

Choose One of Our Featured Online Gaming Sites

Browse Betpack's list of licenced German online casinos. Compare their features, pick a brand that is closest to your personal preferences and visit its website.

Step 2

Register an Account

Click on the registration button and start filling out the fields. Casinos will ask you to provide them with personal information. Confirm that you're of legal gambling age and accept the T&Cs.

Step 3

Deposit and Claim the Welcome Bonus

Once you finalise the process of registration, choose a payment method. Make the required minimum deposit and claim the welcome bonus. You can use the bonus to play your favourite games.

Step 4

Start Playing!

Browse the library of the best online casino and find the game that's eligible for the welcome bonus and meets your criteria. Access the game, place your bet and play.

How We Compare and Rank German Online Casinos

When choosing the best German online casinos, we make sure to implement the highest standards. After all, the operator must meet or exceed your expectations while keeping security levels high. Here are some of the most important features that we check when ranking gambling sites in the country.

Licence / Security

Every German online casino must hold a valid gambling licence. Additionally, it must enforce SSL encryption, RNGs and tools to promote responsible gambling.

Casino Bonuses

Every legit gambling site should feature rewarding deposit and no deposit bonuses. We look into their T&Cs to see if German players can claim and use these offers with ease.

Casino Game Selection

The math here is simple: the more diverse the game library is, the better. Apart from standard casino games, an online casino should have live casino games. Sports betting is a major plus too.

Payment Methods

When checking the available payment methods, we don't aim for diversity only. We inspect the banking policies to see the processing periods for each option, potential fees, etc.

German Casino Bonuses

As soon as you register at any of our featured German online casinos, you will become eligible to claim numerous bonuses. They will allow you to play the featured games without wagering your own money. There are two types of bonuses that you can use: deposit and no deposit. All of them have special sets of bonus terms, which we'll explain later on.

Type of Casino Bonus	Description
Welcome Bonus	The welcome bonus is the first promotion that you'll come across at online casinos in Germany. It's a one-time offer and available to new players only. To claim it, you must make your first deposit. In most cases, welcome packages have bonus money and free spins.
Reload Bonus	These bonuses are often confused with match bonuses because they offer the same thing: bonus money upon depositing. However, the difference here is that reload bonuses apply to recurring deposits on a specific day.
Free Spins	These are usually given as a no deposit bonus. They're usable on slot games only and allow you to play certain slots without your own money while remaining eligible for real money rewards.
Cashback	The casino will redeem some of the lost money on specific games. Cashbacks are usually weekly or daily.
Refer a Friend	A reward that German online casinos give to players for referring other people to their websites. Once you invite someone to your casino and they make their first deposit, you receive a match bonus based on the amount that they transfer.
Loyalty Bonuses	Perks of participating in the VIP program of the German online casino. By being a member, you can receive exclusive match bonuses, free spins, bonus money when you level up, etc. You can also enjoy benefits such as higher withdrawal limits, faster withdrawals and higher cashback percentages.

German Casino Bonuses Terms and Conditions

All bonuses at online casinos Germany feature terms and conditions. They lay out the rules of play and tell you how to claim a certain promo, how to use it and when can you withdraw its winnings. Bonus terms can be a bit complicated to comprehend. That's why Betpack is more than happy to explain them.

Minimum Deposit: The minimum amount that you need to transfer to your casino account to claim deposit bonuses. The minimum bonus deposit may be higher than the minimum casino deposit.
Maximum Bonus: The maximum bonus funds that you can receive from the deposit bonus.
Maximum Bet: The maximum amount that you can wager while using the bonus. This limit is often lower than the maximum bet limit of the game itself.
Wagering Requirements: A multiplier that tells you how much real money you need to stake on casino games before you can cash out winnings with the bonus. Multiply the requirements with your deposit to get the sum that you’re supposed to wager.
Eligible Games: Casino games on which you can use the bonus.
Eligible Payment Methods: Payment methods that you can use to deposit money into your online casino account and claim the bonus itself.
Validity Period: A timeframe in which you must meet all terms and conditions, including the wagering requirements.

Top German Online Casinos by Category

Ranking online casinos in Germany based on their category is the best way to find an operator closer to your preferences. That ultimately leads to a better gambling experience and more fun. Betpack's team did good research on the operators in the country and here are our rankings.

Best For	Casino
Best for Mobile Gaming	Betpanda.io
Best for Fast Withdrawals	Velobet
Best for Rewarding Bonuses	QuickWin
Best for VIP Rewards	Betovo
Best for Crypto Gambling	Bets.io

Popular Payment Methods for German Online Casinos

To claim deposit bonuses and play games for real money at the best online casinos in Germany, you need to deposit money. Of course, if you happen to win a reward with a bonus, you'll surely want to cash them out. The good thing about our gambling sites is that they're known for diversity in payments. All of them accept the most popular options for German gamers, which include the following.

Debit Cards: The first and most popular payment method at online casinos in Germany is debit cards. They allow you to instantly deposit money while maintaining the highest level of security. Withdrawals have an average processing period of 1-3 business days.
Mobile Payments: Mobile payments like Apple Pay and Google Pay are popular for their security and convenience. These services offer low fees and fast withdrawals. While you need to connect your bank account, both Apple Pay and Google Pay use unique digital account numbers (DAN) to transfer money, which ensures your bank details remain secure.
E-Wallets: E-wallets like PayPal, Skrill, and Neteller are popular options for online transactions, including at online casinos. These e-wallets allow you to deposit and withdraw money quickly and securely. Payouts usually take about one day. Note that sometimes they may not be eligible to claim bonuses and promotions.
Cryptocurrencies: One of the few methods that feature instant withdrawals. Cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin, Bitcoin Cash, Ethereum and Tether are commonly used due to their efficiency. They're also always eligible for casino promotions.
Bank Transfers: The reason why the best online casinos in Germany accept bank transfers is because they're very safe. Although you can always use it to claim bonuses, keep in mind that withdrawals with bank transfers are slow and can take up to 7 business days.

Mobile Gambling and Casino Apps in Germany

Because the mobile gaming industry is experiencing growth in every part of the planet, Germany's best online casinos make sure to optimise their websites for use on all mobile devices.

German casinos utilise the latest HTML5 technology. Thanks to that, you can access their websites via Android or iOS browsers. All of the services are available in mobile versions. The second option and one that's more effective, is having a special app. Apps are the key to having a unique gambling experience. Certain casinos list their apps on Google Play Store and/or AppStore. Once you tap the download button, the app will install itself automatically.

Other top online casinos upload APK files on their websites. You can manually download and install them before playing.

Online Casino Games in Germany

Even though German gamers face a few restrictions when it comes to the available gambling activities, they still have plenty of choices. You'll have access to the likes of online slots, blackjack, online poker, roulette, baccarat, and more.

Online Slots

Online Blackjack

Online Poker

Online Roulette

Instant Games

First up, we have the most popular online casino games in the world: slots. They are very simple to comprehend. You just set your bet and spin the reels. Each slot at licenced casino sites in Germany will have a five-second layover, per the laws. That means that the reels will spin longer than usual before revealing the outcome.

Online slots have tonnes of in-game bonuses, such as free spins, bonus rounds, bonus wheels, multipliers, Wild symbols, etc. Each game has its own policies regarding the activation of these features. So, if you're going to play a game, make sure you read the paytable first.

In-game free spins and bonus free spins offers are not the same as well. Free spins offers are a casino bonus and a free spins mode is an in-game bonus.

Popular Online Slots for German Players

Slots are a common pick in Germany. Some of the games that we're about to list are so popular in Germany that they're also featured in popular land-based casinos. As for the things that make them so attractive, there are plenty: RTP, bonus features, great visuals, mobile compatibility, etc. The list goes on and on. So, if you're getting started with gambling online, here are some of the top slot games in Germany.

Game	Provider
Book of Dead	Play'n GO
The Dog House	Pragmatic Play
Wild Dojo Strike	Hacksaw Gaming
Blood Suckers	NetEnt

Top 10 Live Casinos in Germany

One of the biggest advantages of offsore casinos is that they provide you a perfect live casino expereience. Here are our top recommendations for experiencing the best live casino action.

Hot.Bet
Mostbet
BC.Game
Hashlucky
Futureplay
Royalfortune
Herake
Betrophy
ZenBetting
Solisbet

Traditional vs New Online Casinos in Germany

With all these new casinos, you might find yourself thinking whether you should hunt for new online casinos or settle down on a well-established gambling brand. We're here to tell you that both options have their pros and cons. It's all about what you prefer more. Let's compare both types of casinos to help you understand more.

New Online Casinos
Exquisite bonuses that attract players
Diverse game libraries with new releases
New online casinos prioritise mobile-first design
High wagering requirements may apply
May not yet have the necessary security credentials

Traditional Online Casinos
Average bonuses and promotions
May have limited game libraries compared to new casinos
Websites may not be mobile-friendly
Standard wagering requirements
Better reputation and strict security

Most Trusted Online Casino Sites in Germany by Betpack

After a thorough review of the German gambling industry, we found a few sites that we ranked higher than any other in terms of trustworthiness and security. They will provide you with a unique experience and registering there won't take more than a minute of your time.

Casino	Licence
Rollino	Curacao
Winz.io	Curacao
Goldenbet	Curacao
Jackbit	Curacao

Conclusion

Regulations regarding online gambling in Germany allow tonnes of gambling opportunities while making sure that the industry is safe. Betpack did the hard work for you and managed to find some of the best brands that operate in the country. You're more than welcome to check their services and read our expert reviews to get more familiar with them. After finding the operator that meets your preferences, you can register, deposit funds and start playing.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Online Gambling Legal in Germany?

Yes, almost all forms of gambling online have been legal in Germany since 2021. However, German casino sites must enforce several responsible gaming policies to make sure that the players don't develop an addiction.

How Old Do I Need to Be to Gamble Online in Germany?

If you want to register, play games for real money and claim the best bonuses at German online casinos, you need to be over 18.

Are Online Casinos Germany Safe?

All of Betpack's featured online casinos are safe. They hold valid licenses, feature lucrative welcome bonuses and use the latest SSL encryption protocols. That way, you'll enjoy maximum security while you play your favourite games.

Are There Any Gambling Restrictions in Germany?

Yes, the best casinos in Germany are required to enforce several types of responsible gambling policies. For starters, the monthly maximum deposit for players is €1,000.

How Can I Claim a Bonus at German Casinos?

German casinos offer several types of bonuses. To claim one, you need to register an account. Then, if needed, make the required deposit and enter the bonus code. Once you do so, the casino will instantly transfer the bonus to your account.