Do I need to pay taxes on online gambling winnings in Germany?

In Germany, players do not have to pay any taxes on gambling winnings. Online casinos are subjected to a VAT tax rate of 19% of their gross gaming revenue. Sports betting and horse race betting operators are subjected to a 5% tax rate on all stakes, whereas lottery operators are taxed at a whopping 20% rate of all bets.

Can I play with Euros at online casinos?

Yes. [The Euro is the universal currency across European online casinos](/currencies/euros/), and you would be hard-pressed to find one that won’t offer it as your primary currency.

Is it safe to play at German casinos?

German legislation does not allow making online wagers and the operation of German-based online casinos. Many German-based online casinos did exist not too long ago under the Schleswig-Holstein license, but their licenses expired in 2018 and were not extended as they did not comply with EU law. Therefore, new legislation regarding online gambling is still pending in Germany. However, this does not make placing bets at off-country online casinos illegal. As such, it is perfectly safe to gamble on sites from other countries, especially those licensed by the Malta Gaming Authority and UK Gambling Commission.

Can I play for free at German online casinos?

Yes. Most games, especially video slots, can be played for free for an unlimited amount of time as a way of testing the game’s mechanics. In some cases, you will need to create an account to play games in “Fun Mode”, but no deposits are required whatsoever. Free versions of games are mirror replicas of their real money counterparts and give you a good outlook on what to expect before you play for real.

Can I expect bonuses at German online casinos?

Yes. European online casinos number in the hundreds, and most if not all of them are accepting German players. These online casinos strive to stand out from the competition in numerous ways, one of which is promotional offers. As a German player, you can expect hefty welcome bonuses, free spins, no deposit bonuses, cashback offers, and so forth.

Are there withdrawal fees at German casinos?

This depends on the withdrawal method you are using. In general, German online casinos rarely employ fees themselves. You are more likely to be charged by your payment operator, especially if you are withdrawing through Bank Transfer. E-wallet operators, on the other hand, charge minimal fees that won’t make a dent in your overall gambling income.

What do I need to do to receive my winnings?

As per standard online gambling regulations for means of safety and anti-fraudulent activities, all players are required to verify their identity before requesting a withdrawal. This means sending a photo or a scan of your personal ID to the casino’s customer support team. Often, a casino will require you to complement this with a photo or scan of a utility bill that is no older than 3 to 6 months, such as a phone, electricity or water bill. The verification process usually takes 48 hours, and we recommend you complete it as soon as you have created an account to avoid prolonged withdrawal times.

How long will it take before I receive my winnings?

Withdrawal times are highly dependent on the payment method you are using. Bank Transfer withdrawals take the longest, usually up to a full working week. The same can be said for credit/debit card withdrawals as well, as in principle they are the same as bank transfers. On the flipside, payouts to e-wallets such as Neteller and Skrill are usually processed within 24 hours, and oftentimes instantly.

Which payment methods are available at online casinos in Germany?

German players have the luxury of choosing between dozens of respectable payment options for both deposit and withdrawal purposes. This means a great selection of credit and debit cards, e-wallets, prepaid cards, and even cryptocurrency. German players have the most popular European payment methods at their disposal, as well as some popular German payment options such as Sofort, SEPA, and Giropay. Despite PayPal’s ban on gambling transactions for German residents, your options at hand are limitless. The most commonly used payment methods in Germany are: Before deciding on which payment method to use, have a look at the fees. If speed is your primary concern, then make sure to use an e-wallet. All e-wallet providers charge minimal fees, but they still differ to some extent. We recommend Neteller and Skrill if you are funding your e-wallets via means other than your bank account. If you plan on linking your bank account to your payment method, then we recommend using MuchBetter, as transactions are completely free this way.

Best Online Casinos in Germany: Top 10 Casino Websites 2023

Online casinos in Germany

Germany has a complicated legal history of gambling, but in summary, land casinos and certain forms of online gambling are legal, including sports betting and casino games. However, the number of German-based online casinos is far too few, and Germans much prefer gaming at online casinos licensed by the Malta Gaming Authority.

While this is technically not legal, it is also not illegal, falling under a grey area of gambling legislation. Thus, German gamers cannot be legally prosecuted for gaming at offshore online casinos. These online casinos are often available in the German language, use the EUR as currency, and offer top-tier games and numerous security measures to keep players safe.

As a German player, you can expect to play at the most trustworthy online casinos on the planet, as these operators are often licensed by the MGA, the most esteemed regulatory body on the market. What’s more, German gamers can expect online casinos that often have 1000+ games of all kinds brought on by leading software companies.

Of course, bonuses play a big part in the online world as well, and Germans can take advantage of numerous welcome bonuses and free spins that can easily double one’s bankroll.

Looking to get started? Browse through our reviews for more details on each of our featured online casinos in Germany. No matter your choice, you can’t make a wrong turn here.

All the online casinos featured on our website have been thoroughly vetted by our team of experts, meaning you can expect nothing but quality and security.

History of gambling in Germany

Germany is a country with a rich history and has a vast history of gambling as well. Gambling in Germany has been present for as long as money has been in circulation, dating back as far as the Middle Ages.

However, unlike in many other countries, gambling never took to the mainstream and was often frowned upon by German society. The number of gamblers has always been minimal in comparison to other countries because it was illegal at times as well. This is because gambling was always viewed as a morally questionable activity.

The end of World War 2

Following the end of World War 2, German infrastructure was shattered, and many new laws came into effect, one of which let states decide their own gambling legislation, while gambling itself remained illegal on a federal level.

This paved the way for the opening of sports betting shops and casinos, but gambling only took off near the beginning of the 21st century, with the advent of online betting.

The state of Schleswig-Holstein

Online casinos were considered illegal at the time, but this did not stop German citizens from betting in off-shore online casinos. The state of Schleswig-Holstein was the only state which legalized online gambling and started issuing its own license. The country had issued over 50 online casino licenses for Germans to play at, but they all expired in 2018.

The state of Schleswig-Holstein then decided to abandon its own gambling legislation and joined the other German states in abiding the IGT (Interstate Gambling Treaty). This treaty took effect in 2008 and put a ban on all forms of online betting.

The IGT was amended in 2012 to allow online sports betting and lottery, but casinos and poker were left untouched.

Legal casinos in Germany

Legal casinos, which are state-run, but still owned by private contractors, are available in Germany. In fact, there are more than 50 land casinos in the country. However, their popularity is low and diminishing as time goes on.

This is because these establishments are not like the Vegas-style casinos. They sometimes require an entry fee, have a smoking ban, are not open 24/7, and are rarely conjoined with hotels, shopping malls, or restaurants. This makes them unattractive to visit for most gambling enthusiasts in the country, and their profits are dwindling by the year.

On the other hand, online gambling has been witnessing an exponential rise in popularity, despite its technically illegal status. German bettors take their cash to off-shore online casinos, an activity that does not put them liable for criminal prosecution.

Future of online casinos in Germany

As Germany is a fairly progressive country, we expect a more updated online gambling legislation in the near future that would pave the way for German-based online casinos. Given online gambling’s popularity, the country would gain massive tax revenue and lose basically nothing in the process.

One gambling trend that is on the rise internationally, as well as in Germany, is mobile casinos. Mobile casino german are some of the top-visited casinos in the country today. Make sure to check out the safest casinos mobile in Germany.

Are casinos legal in Germany?

Yes, there are over 50 legal land casinos on German soil and dozens of online sports betting and lottery sites up and running.

The Baden-Baden Casino

The Baden-Baden casino is the most popular land casino in Germany with a history dating back to the 1800s when it was first opened. The casino stands out with its glamour and elegance. It also hosts a myriad of Table Games and over 130 Slot Machines.

Other popular land casinos in Germany are the Casino Duisburg, the Speilbank Hamburg, Casino Reeperbahn, and Casino Bad Wiesse, hosting over 200 Slot Machines on offer.

Partially legal gambling

As German federal law allows states to make up their own gambling legislation, gambling can be considered partially legal in the country. The other half is the topic of online gambling.

Up until very recently, in 2018, German online casinos were completely legal, as long as they held a license issued by Schleswig-Holstein. Unfortunately, the state decided not to renew these licenses upon expiry, thus joining the other states in their stance towards online casinos.

Yet, not one sentence of German legislation strictly prohibits German residents to place bets at off-shore licensed casinos, such as those licensed by the Malta Gaming Authority and UK Gambling Commission.

European online casinos

Many European online casinos are available in German and offer German-language customer support, as well as thousands of modern games to wager on. What’s more, gambling winnings are not yet taxable in the country, which means that Germans make up for a fair share of the overall online gambling player base.

In short, it is not illegal to place online bets as a German citizen, as long as the casino is not situated within the country itself.

German players’ favorite games

Germany has a long history of gambling, but no particular games stand out as strictly preferred by the German players. German players have enjoyed all forms of gambling throughout the years, a fact which stands true to this day.

In the online gambling world, Germans enjoy everything that is on offer. As true fans of a number of sports, German gamblers love betting on football, as well as various racing-based sports.

Slot machines

In the online casino world, Slot Machines are king, and Video Slots, in particular, boast top-tier graphics, innovative bonus features, and excellent payout mechanics.

Classic Slots are also on offer at many German casinos, as are a number of Progressive Jackpots, such as NetEnt’s Mega Fortune and Microgaming’s Mega Moolah – both millionaire-makers and record-breakers in the online gambling industry.

Table games

Roulette, Blackjack, Poker, Baccarat, Craps – this is the bare minimum of Table Games included and found at every German online casino. What makes things interesting is that the casinos offer dozens of exciting spins on these popular Table Games, offering a myriad of innovative variations that will elevate your gaming sessions to a new level.

Video poker

Video Poker lovers can often indulge in popular titles in the likes of Deuces Wild, Joker Poker, All American – many of which are available in Regular, Multi-Hand, and Double Up variants.

As a German bettor, your choices are virtually limitless, which is one of the many advantages of online casinos.

How we select the best online casinos in Germany

The European market is overflowing with hundreds of licensed and regulated online casinos. As German players can game anywhere they like with no fear of legal repercussions, it is safe to label most of these casinos as German online casinos.

In fact, many of them are available in German as well, meaning it is obvious they are looking to cater to the German player base.

Of course, as a newcomer to online gambling, making a choice can be difficult. However, you can rest assured that our team of experts is working around the clock to bring you the best online casinos.

Security

German online casinos are, without exception, licensed by the Malta Gaming Authority (MGA), the undisputed leader in terms of trustworthiness out of all licensing bodies on the planet.

This means that German casinos are the safest around, as these operators must adhere to strict guidelines imposed by the MGA. Security, fair play, safe and reliable payments, verified set of games – these are the things you can expect out of every MGA-licensed german online casino.

Operators who disobey their licensing body’s guidelines on fair play and security, risk heavy punishment in the form of monetary fines, and in some cases, removal of their license.

Languages

Most of the leading European online casinos are available in German and offer the EUR as a primary currency.

Online casinos that are available in English and are licensed by the MGA are available to Germans as well. It’s up to you if you’d like to play in your domestic language or in English, but in other aspects, these online casinos are virtually identical.

Customer Support

German gamers can enjoy free-flowing gaming sessions thanks to professional customer support available via multiple channels, which is without exception available at all of our recommended online casinos.

These casinos offer support via live chat, available 7 days of the week, and often 24/7. Also, telephone support via International and even German phone numbers is often on the menu, as is e-mail support as a basic requirement.

Software Providers and Gaming Selection

It is a fact that the majority of leading European online casinos are available to German players. These casinos are “leading” for a reason, and one such reason is their quality gaming selection.

As a German player, you can expect to have your choice between hundreds of online casino games brought on by industry leaders in the likes of:

Net Entertainment
Thunderkick
Quickspin
Yggdrasil
Play N Go
Evolution Gaming, and many others.

Bonuses and promotions for German casino players

Besides games, bonuses are an important factor of equal value to the majority of gamers. Simply put, the opportunity of doubling your bankroll with fair bonus terms is too good to pass up on.

And fortunately, German online casinos boast the best and fairest promotional offers on the market, ranging from the welcome bonus to various free spins promos.

Welcome Bonuses

Just like Video Slots are the kings of the gaming department, the Welcome Bonus shares the same crown in terms of bonuses and promotions.

As a newcomer, you can always expect a welcome bonus to kickstart your bankroll by offering a 100% or even a 200% match on your first deposit.

The good thing is that German casinos feature extremely fair bonus terms that make it easy for you to make extra money out of your initial deposit.

Free Spins Bonuses

Free Spins Bonuses are increasing in popularity as time goes on. These bonuses can often be played on a single game, or a set of games – for instance, NetEnt games. Usually, bonus cash derived from Free Spins must be wagered before the withdrawal of those funds is made possible.

No Deposit Bonuses

The German player base is often targeted with No Deposit Bonuses, as this player base is highly lucrative in the eyes of casino operators.

No Deposit Bonuses are a fantastic way of enticing newcomers, as players can win some cash with no risk on their part. Keep in mind, however, that No Deposit Bonuses have strict wagering requirements and cashout limits – usually €100. Still, as far as free money is concerned, there’s hardly room for complaining.

Responsible gaming

Always make sure to gamble responsibly.

If you need help dealing with gambling, you can always reach out to GamCare.

Top-rated Online gambling sites in Germany

Bonuses

Games

Deposit methods