PAYMENT METHODS AND ONLINE CASINOS IN GERMANY
Top Casinos and Best Banking Options for German Players
Although the German nation is considered to be one of the most disciplined in the world, everyone needs a bit of relaxation, a time to unwind and forget about everyday problems. Germans, too. One of the ways they do it is by visiting online casinos and playing real money casino games.
We’ve taken the liberty to review a lot of casinos that support German players looking for sites that stand out. On this page, the CBM team offers a comprehensive compilation of the best German online casinos, complete with the best banking options for German players.
Even though regulations are fairly strict, the passion for gambling in Germany is still burning. Germans want to gamble; they enjoy sports betting, online slots, table games and other gaming formats.
Selecting casinos to play at is challenging, as well as picking out the most appropriate banking solutions. CBM will give you suggestions and share arguments as to why we think these options are viable.
On this page, German online casino players will find their sanctuary. We will also add regular updates to our German market analysis, so that you can stay current with fresh changes to the German gambling community.
Best German Online Casinos
We’ve found that there is a high demand for top online casinos in Germany. After all, Germany is one of the biggest online casino markets in Europe. Since the range of available gambling sites is quite large, German residents can afford to be picky, looking for that perfect website that offers the very best services. We’d like to step in and offer some of our own suggestions, carefully selected on account of their positive rating and favourable aspects, from high-quality software and games to helpful customer service and excellent bonus deals.
Slots Palace
18+ | New Customers Only |
T&C Apply- Amazing live casino
- 4,900+ games
- Great cashback offers
18+ | New Customers Only |
T&C Apply
Casumo
18+ | New Customers Only | Opt-in required. 20 Bonus Spins on “Sahara Riches Cash Collect” and 100% Deposit Bonus up to £25 on first deposit. Min deposit £10. 30x wagering requirement for Bonus Spins and 30x wagering requirement for Deposit Bonus (game weighting applies). Max £5/spin or £0.50/line or £10/round (live casino). 30 days expiry. Please Gamble responsibly begambleaware.org
T&C Apply- Free deposits & withdrawals
- Reel Races
- Evolution & Playtech live dealers
18+ | New Customers Only | Opt-in required. 20 Bonus Spins on “Sahara Riches Cash Collect” and 100% Deposit Bonus up to £25 on first deposit. Min deposit £10. 30x wagering requirement for Bonus Spins and 30x wagering requirement for Deposit Bonus (game weighting applies). Max £5/spin or £0.50/line or £10/round (live casino). 30 days expiry. Please Gamble responsibly begambleaware.org
T&C Apply
Top Casino Banking Methods in Germany
German-based players can top up their online casino accounts using a number of different banking options. But we are not interested in all of them – we simply want to get to the conclusion regarding the best payment methods available to German players. We have noticed a good trend among online casinos, seeing them adjusting their services to the needs of the markets they serve. So, at the best German casinos online you are bound to find the best payment options, as well.
Review & Best Casinos
- A highly secure payment solution
- Great option for Germany, Austria
- Instant casino deposits
Review & Best Casinos
- Available around the globe
- Designed with iGaming focus
- Fast deposits & withdrawals
Review & Best Casinos
- Instant deposits & withdrawals
- No registration procedure
- Maximum security
Review & Best Casinos
- Fast casino transactions
- Available around the globe
- 165 supported currencies
Review & Best Casinos
- A leading payment solution
- Maximum security
- Fast & easy casino transactions
Review & Best Casinos
- Fast casino payments
- Available around the globe
- Designed with iGaming focus
Review & Best Casinos
- Premium option for Austria
- Wide acceptance at casinos
- Multiple security features
Review & Best Casinos
- Instant deposits & withdrawals
- Safe and reliable e-Wallet
- Widely accepted at casinos
Laws and Regulations on Online Gambling in Germany
Online gambling in any country needs to be seen through the prism of its laws and regulations. In the case of Germany, the situation is similar to the one currently unfolding in the Netherlands. Before 2021, German authorities did not license online gambling operators.
However, that changed in March 2020, when the German federal states agreed on a new German Interstate Treaty on Gambling (ISTG 2021). The new law came into force on July 1st, 2021.
New Licensing Regime in Place Since 2021
Sports betting, online poker and online casino games became legal in Germany. New rules allow residents of Germany to play an assortment of online casino games at licensed online casinos. That being said, there are some restrictions in place:
- Deposit limitations up to €1,000 per month
- Online casino operators will need to respect advertisement restrictions
- Slot machines will have bet limits of €1 per spin and a spin will need to last a minimum of 5 seconds
The heavy restrictions for players and high taxes for operators have driven German gamblers towards offshore operators, so we cannot say the new gambling law has been a success.
German-based players have free access to the many online casinos that hold licences from foreign authorities. The Interstate Treaty on Gambling (ITG) which was brought into effect in 2008 prohibits players from carrying out gambling activities online and companies from offering unauthorised games of chance, but does not specifically prohibit gambling online on websites that are located outside of the country.
We also must mention that Germany is comprised of 16 individual states and laws differ from one state to another. That is why there were 2012 ITG updates that allowed individual states to decide on their own how to regulate online gambling, with the federal government overseeing the operations.
As a result, the state of Schleswig-Holstein decided to step away from the ITG and issued 50 licences to online casinos that same year. Later, the state joined the Interstate Treaty on Gambling once again.
In regards to other online casino games, namely classic table games and poker, every state in the country will decide on its own whether to allow their gameplay online or not.
If they do allow them, there will be stake limitations in place just like with slots. Upon announcing the new regulations, the Regional Council of Darmstadt received 30+ applications from online casino operators that want to offer their games legally in Germany.
GGL is the New Regulatory Body
The new regulatory body in Germany was established in December 2022. Gemeinsamen Glücksspielbehörde der Länder (GGL) officially took over all regulatory tasks from individual federal states in Germany in January 2023. The new regulatory body is responsible for issuing gambling licenses and tackling illegal gambling in the country.
In January 2023, GGL conditionally approved almost 50 more certificates for online slots and poker. The total number of individual game applications for online poker and slots is 3,500.
Up til now, the regulator has greenlighted some 600 requests. Also, there are 25 providers with valid gambling licenses in Germany added to the white list of regulated operators in the country.
GGL confirmed it will continue fighting illegal gambling and revoking licenses if they spot any violation of terms. The regulator also plans to establish a public prosecutor’s office in Halle to process complaints against illegal gambling operators.
Almost 150 cases of illegal gambling and nearly the same number of cases of promoting illegal gambling have been filed with the GGL.
The main goals of the GGL in 2023 include providing greater transparency for players and introducing player protection measures to prevent gambling addictions.
German Market Updates
- January 2023: GGL greenlights almost 50 more individual gambling licenses for online slots and poker games.
- June 2022: Online casino sites with a German license need to pay a 5.3% tax of the turnover from online slots and poker.
- March 2022: The German state Thuringia passes amendments on its Casino Act to greenlight a regulated online casino market.
- February 2022: Online casino gaming is officially allowed in Germany’s biggest state, North Rhine-Westphalia. The Düsseldorf state parliament has voted in favour of a law regulating iGaming, allowing providers to apply for a maximum of 5 online casino licences.
Are You Required to Pay Taxes on Winnings?
Germany has finally taken a uniform nationwide approach to gambling laws and regulations, including betting taxes. The Racing Bets and Lotteries Act (Rennwett- und Lotteriegesetz) received significant amendments handling special taxes for online poker and slots.
Virtual slots and online poker games are subject to a uniform tax rate of 5.3%. The moment when the stake is made is when the tax is incurred.
The German parliament approved the new turnover tax, but certain issues are already surfacing. Entain, Flutter Entertainment and Greentube hired Goldmedia to do a survey and ask 600+ online slot players about the new tax. Around 49% admitted that they would choose a foreign website instead of a locally-regulated one.
Players who wish to play at tax-free casinos have the option to visit offshore-based sites. Otherwise, they must pay stake fees and an additional tax of 5% on their winnings. Those who lose, however, don’t need to pay the additional tax as they haven’t generated any winnings.
German sports bettors (residents and foreigners betting within Germany) also need to pay a 5% tax on all bets they place. Some bookmakers have found ways to lift the weight from their users and absorb the tax themselves. Other operators only tax players’ winning bets while covering the tax on losing bets.
Can Casinos That Accept German Players Be Trusted?
Very few casinos in Germany have a local license. Those that do are forced to lower game RTPs. As a result, many German players turn to casinos with questionable legal statuses or casino sites without a local license. Online casinos accepting German players not licensed by a national regulatory body usually hold licenses from other regulators with a great reputation in the industry.
A recommended German online casino will typically hold a licence from the Malta Gaming Authority, as it’s one of the safest gaming licences in the world. They might also have a licence from Curaçao, UK or Gibraltar, which are also considered strict and very thorough when it comes to supervising the license holder’s operations, especially UKGC and Gibraltar.
Nevertheless, online gambling is only considered legal if the provider is in possession of a German licence. In other words, abroad-licensed casinos are illegal in Germany. However, playing at such sites does not create any consequences for the players at this time.
German punters don’t need to concern themselves with privacy issues and their funds being secure as long as they choose casinos wisely. If the sites are regularly tested for fairness by third-party auditors, the environment is safe to join.
It is absolutely crucial that RNGs are audited regularly to ensure that the games that use this technology are, in fact, truly random. If you see that the games at your chosen casino are tested by eCOGRA or iTech Labs, for example, you need not doubt their fairness and safety.
Best Casino Bonuses for German Players
German players can benefit from all the services and perks the casino site provides, including, of course, online casino bonuses. There are no restrictions in terms of which types of bonuses are open for German players and which aren’t. The casino operators have the liberty to create bonus programs for their customers, and sometimes they offer country-specific bonuses. Whether the bonus is German-specific or universal, you can claim the prize if you meet the bonus requirements. CBM keeps track of active offers, so feel free to check them out below.
Winz.io
Free Spins
SLOTS
None
Ongoing
€20
No
PlayUZU
No Wagering
Not needed
None
Ongoing
$10
No maximum
PlayOJO
Free Spins
No Wagering
Welcome Package
None
Ongoing
€10
No maximum
5% Live Casino Cashback
Cashback
No Wagering
Not required
None
Ongoing
€2
No maximum
35% Instant Cashback
Cashback
Not required
10x
Ongoing
$10
No maximum
Neon 54
Cashback
Not Needed
1x
Ongoing
€10
Nomini
Cashback
Not needed
1x
Ongoing
€50
No maximum
Up to 15% Daily Cashback
Cashback
High Roller
Not needed
15x
Ongoing
€100
€30,000
Local Payment Methods to Consider
While German players have been excluded from using the services of PayPal, for example, they are left with plenty of other good possibilities, including Sofort, MuchBetter, Giropay, Apple Pay, SEPA and so on. Sofort and Giropay are particularly suitable for online casino players from Germany as these are regarded as local payment methods and many Germans use these banking options for online transfers regardless of whether they engage in online gambling or not.
You can fully make use of the market potentials by opting for one of these two methods; Sofort is a rapid online banking processor available primarily to German players, but also other German-speaking communities like Belgium, Austria and Switzerland. Giropay is an internet payment service specifically intended for German users.
While you are not obligated to use either of them, you should be aware that going for local methods or banking systems that are popular in your country is something that most seasoned casino gamers would advise. Why? Simply because you will find them at casinos that accept players from Germany, you will be able to conveniently use them for deposits and withdrawals and you are most likely familiar with how they work anyway, not to mention the grand benefit of playing in local currency.
Depositing with EUR Currency
As a player from Germany, you don’t need an extensive online casino currency gambler guide. Knowing that it is always better to deposit and wager in local will suffice. Not all casino operators will have a wide range of accepted local currencies. Luckily, the Euro is the currency of numerous other European countries and also one of the major tenders in the world. For that reason, many casinos of international nature rarely fail to accept EUR deposits.
Paying in Euros for online casino services does not differ from shopping online and the best thing about it is that you won’t have to pay any conversion fees. Not all online casino players are so fortunate; players will less widely available currencies need to go to the exchange process and pay additional charges for it.
Top Land-Based Casinos in Germany
Despite online casinos snatching the spotlight, the land-based gambling industry in Germany is alive and kicking. There are more than 50 casino venues spread across the country. Major cities have them, but if you plan on getting out of town for the weekend, the best locations would be the rural resorts known as Casino Bad Ems. Germany offers both modern facilities and historic spa casinos. Therefore, players are free to choose according to their preferences regarding style and atmosphere.
Casino Banking Methods believes these casinos are Germany’s top 5 land-based Spielbanken.
Casino Bad Wiessee
Casino Bad Wiessee is a resort offering plenty of gambling, entertainment, fresh air, and breathtaking surroundings. The venue is located on the western shore of Tegernsee Lake in Upper Bavaria and opened in 1957. If you ever find yourself at Winner 1, 83707 Bad Wiessee, you’ll have a chance to experience 220 slot machines and 13 table games. They include:
- American Roulette
- French Roulette
- Blackjack
- Texas Hold’em
- Bavarian Texas Hold’em
Spielbank Bad Wiessee also offers keno, video poker, and electronic bingo. The hours are limited, and there is a small entrance fee. The dress code is smart casual (jackets for men are obligatory).
Casino Berlin
Spielbank Berlin is located in an imposing 3-story building at Marlene-Dietrich-Platz 1 in Berlin. The casino venue was in the Berlin Zoo from 1975 to 1998. Today, it is one of the most modern casinos in the country. Also known as Casino Berlin Potsdamer Platz, this facility houses more than 300 gambling machines and around a dozen table games with a separate poker room.
Casino Berlin patrons can enjoy the following:
- American Roulette
- French Roulette
- Blackjack
- Baccarat
- Ultimate Poker
Poker tables have limited hours and accommodate constant cash games and regular tournaments. The Spielbank Berlin at Potsdamer Platz has an informal dress code. It sometimes houses live music performances and theatre plays.
Baden-Baden Casino
One of Germany’s oldest casinos, Kurhaus un Spilebank Baden-Baden has a history of over 200 years long. The European elite would visit Casino Baden-Baden in its heyday, including famous writers and artists like Dostoyevsky and Marlene Dietrich. The Belle Époque architecture inspires the venue’s exterior, and the interior was modelled after French royal palaces, therefore lavishly decorated.
Visiting Baden-Baden Casino is more about prestige than anything else. The casino is medium-sized, housing around 140 slot machines and less than a dozen tables. Patrons can bet on the following games:
- American Roulette
- French Roulette
- Blackjack
- Texas Hold’em
Even though Casino Baden-Baden is the highest-rated casino in Germany, it may be a bit overpriced for the average gambler. Its tables maintain high minimum bets, and there is a strict dress code for all patrons.
Casino Esplanade
Hamburg, as the second-largest city in Germany, has Casino Esplanade to offer – a less historic venue with a solid range of gaming machines and tables. The casino opened in 1978 and houses over 150 slots and 18 tables. The slots and table games are separated; those who wish to spin the reels are allowed to wear something more casual, whereas patrons of the live tables area need to dress more formally.
Casino Esplanade is home to:
- American Roulette
- French Roulette
- Blackjack
- Texas Hold’em
- Omaha Hold’em
It also has a restaurant and two bars for the patrons to refresh and regain their strength before returning to their slots or tables.
Casino Duisburg
If you want to see what one of the busiest German casinos looks like, your destination is Casino Duisburg at Landfermannstraße 6, Duisburg. This modern casino opened in 2007 and boasts one of the largest gaming spaces spanning 88,188 square feet. Available games include over 350 slots and more than 25 tables with live dealers.
Stepping into the Casino Duisburg floor gives you access to:
- American Roulette
- Blackjack
- Ultimate Texas Hold Em
- Omaha
Casino Duisburg also has highly-rated bars and a restaurant. The bar with a cosmic theme is quite trendy among patrons. The dress code is smart casual for the slots’ parlour and semi-formal for the tables area and poker room.
Most Famous Gamblers
Fedor Holz is a German professional poker player originating from Saarbrücken. High roller tournaments are his specialty, and he climbed to the top of the German all-time money list in 2020 with live tournament winnings of over $32,500,000.
Holz is known as the CrownUpGuy online, and he’s been successful playing both live and online poker. However, he has been less active in the past years, shifting his focus to a project dedicated to mindfulness, meditation and life coaching techniques called Primed Mind.
The German retired tennis player Boris Becker fairs well in poker, too. While his earnings as a poker player can’t compare to tournament prizes during his tennis career, Boom Boom Becker made a name for himself in the poker scene.
Boris Becker turned to professional poker in 2007 and has earned around $117,000 so far. As of late, Becker has been playing the role of an ambassador for German poker sites, appearing under the nickname Boris_Becker.
Also a professional poker player, Dominik Nitsche originally came from Minden. He began playing poker online at 16, under his mother’s name. As he progressed, his sites of choice became PokerStars and Full Tilt, where he won $7.045 million in total.
As of 2022, the recorded winnings of Nitsche amount to over $19,100,000. He’s won four WSOP bracelets, and his well-known nickname is Bounatirou.
Fun Facts
There are nearly 400 casinos and other gambling facilities in Germany, which are evenly spread throughout the regions. Berlin, the capital of Germany, has the most casinos.
In 1810, the oldest casino in Germany was built, known as the Casino Wiesbaden. Not only is this the oldest casino in Germany, but it is one of the oldest gambling establishments in recorded history.
According to Forbes magazine, the oldest casino in Germany is also one of the top 10 richest casinos in the world.
There were multiple floods in Germany in 2003. A 70-year-old Skaskonia-Anhalt retiree lost all his properties in one of them. Several days later, he won €759,161 playing slots at Bad Harzburg.
Gambling in Germany dates back to the time when the Roman Empire took over Germanic territories. As is commonly known, betting was a popular activity amongst Ancient Roman soldiers.
Germany has the most internet users in Europe, creating significant potential for business, including online casinos.
Fedor Holz and Christoph Vogelsang are the most prominent German gamblers. Both are poker players that have earned millions upon millions during their live tournaments careers, and they are still young. Holz started out in 2012 when he was just 19 years old.
FAQ
Is online gambling legal in Germany?
Online gambling is legal in Germany provided that operators offer gambling under a local license. German players are placing bets at casinos online, but mostly at foreign sites because locally-licensed brands lower game RTPs. They do this to cover high tax expenses.
What are the best payment methods for German casino players?
There are many different banking options available to German players. Some of the most popular ones are Sofort, Neteller, MuchBetter, Visa and Mastercard, as well as Giropay, Paysafecard, Skrill and Trustly. Of course, you are the only one that can evaluate which solution works best for you personally.
What games are available in online casinos in Germany?
You’ll find a variety of games to play at German-friendly online casinos – classic slots, modern video slots, casino poker, live dealer games, scratch cards, roulette, blackjack and more.
What do I look for in a good online German casino?
Before you sign up, you can ask yourself several questions. Does the site have a German interface? Does it offer customer support in German? Can you place online casino bets in Euros? Are any bonuses for German players offered? Positive answers to these indicate you have found a good German casino online.
Can I play online casino games using my mobile phone in Germany?
Top online casinos in the German market has will offer the option to play on your Apple, Android or Windows phone/tablet, either through a dedicated app or a mobile-responsive site. So, yes.
Are German online casinos safe?
You can gamble safely at a German internet casino, providing that the casino holds a valid license from a reputable authority, goes through regular software audits and offers transparent services.