4/11/2022

Gambling In Germany

Gambling Laws In Germany
Online Gambling In Germany
Online Gambling In Germany
Gambling In Germany

Similar to the United States, Germany does not have any national regulation on gambling. Unlike the rest of Europe, even lotteries are a matter for state regulation instead of federal management. Generally, the Ministry of the Interior for each state will be responsible for gambling legislation. Best Casino Hotels in Germany on Tripadvisor: Find 4,903 traveler reviews, 3,442 candid photos, and prices for 32 casino hotels in Germany, Europe. Online gambling in Germany is illegal, with the state of Schleswig-Holstein being the only exception. This is the only state that issued online gambling licenses, but more on that later. Sports betting fans have a couple of sites where they can legally place a wager. Germany Gambling & Online Gambling Laws. The topic of online gambling in Germany has been a controversial one, especially in recent times and while the other constitutive German states still refuse to offer licenses to provide online gambling services in the German market, there’s a more liberal view towards online sports betting activities.

Historical, artistic, and distinctive; these are three adjectives that impeccably describe Germany. This Western European country and its famous territories (Berlin, Munich, and Frankfurt) are widely known and visited by millions of tourists each year. Among the most iconic features include the European Central Bank, the 16th-century Hofbräuhaus, beer halls, Munich’s Oktoberfest, the Brandenburg Gate and its beautiful North Sea beaches. On top of all this, Germany is also one of the biggest gambling destinations in the world.

List of Casinos in Germany

Below is a list of all casinos currently operating in the regions of Germany.

27 All Inn
Aquamarin Casino Seevetal
Automatencasino Bremen
Automatenspiel der Spielbank Konstanz
Automatenspiel der Spielbank Osnabruck
Automatenspiel Mundsburg
Automatenspiel Steindamm
Automatenspiel Wandsbek
Automatenspielbank Gorlitz
Bayerische Spielbank Bad Füssing
Bayerische Spielbank Bad Kissingen
Bayerische Spielbank Bad Reichenhall
Bayerische Spielbank Bad Steben
Bayerische Spielbank Bad Wiessee
Bayerische Spielbank Feuchtwangen
Bayerische Spielbank Kotzting
Bayerische Spielbank Lindau
Casino Aachen
Casino Altmarkt
Casino Bad Oeynhausen
Casino Berlin and Forum Hotel Berlin
Casino Bremen
Casino Bremerhaven
Casino Erfurt
Casino Flensburg
Casino Frankfurt-Airport
Casino Glüeckspilz
Casino Homburg
Casino Kiel
Casino Ludwigspark
Casino Neunkirchen
Casino Petersburg
Casino Saarlouis
Casino Schenefeld
Casino Schloss Berg
Casino St. Wendell
Casino Westerland-Sylt – Strandcasino
Das Kasino Reeperbahn
Harzburger Rendering
Kurhessische Spielbank Bad Wildungen
Kurhessische Spielbank Kassel
Lysia Clubsino Lubeck
Merkur Spielbank Leuna-Günthersdorf
Merkur Spielbank Magdeburg
Ostsee-Spielbank Leinsdorf
Ostsee-Spielbank Stralsund
Spielbank am Nürburgring
Spielbank Bad Bentheim
Spielbank Bad Durkheim
Spielbank Bad Ems
Spielbank Bad Harzburg
Spielbank Bad Homburg
Spielbank Bad Kotzting
Spielbank Bad Neuenahr
Spielbank Bad Pyrmont
Spielbank Bad Zwischenahn
Spielbank Baden-Baden
Spielbank Berlin
Spielbank Berlin – Ellipse Spandau
Spielbank Berlin – Fernsehturm
Spielbank Berlin – Nahe KU’DAMM
Spielbank Berlin – Neukölln
Spielbank Borkum
Spielbank Chemnitz
Spielbank Cottbus
Spielbank Do-Hohensyburg
Spielbank Dresden
Spielbank Duisburg
Spielbank Garmisch-Partenkirchen
Spielbank Gottingen
Spielbank Halle
Spielbank Hamburg – Casino Esplanade
Spielbank Hamburg – Casino Mundsburg
Spielbank Hamburg – Casino Reeperbahn
Spielbank Hamburg – Casino Steindamm
Spielbank Hannover
Spielbank Kassel Bad Wildungen
Spielbank Kielounge
Spielbank Konstanz
Spielbank Lübeck – Casino Travemunde
Spielbank Mainz
Spielbank Norderney
Spielbank Osnabruck Vitischanze
Spielbank Osnabrück
Spielbank Potsdam
Spielbank Saarbrucken
Spielbank Schwerin
Spielbank Stuttgart
Spielbank Trier
Spielbank Warnemunde
Spielbank Wiesbaden
Spielbank Wolfsburg
Storm Casino Aschaffenburg
Storm Casino Bensheim
Storm Casino Frankfurt – Hanauer
Storm Casino Frankfurt – Kurt-Schumacher-Str
Storm Casino Frankfurt – Taunusstraße
Storm Casino Fulda – Altstadt
Storm Casino Fulda – Heidelsteinstraße
Storm Casino Kriftel
Storm Casino Mülheim
Storm Casino Simmern

History of Casinos in Germany

Throughout its history, Germany has witnessed a lot of social challenges. Its economy is considerably strong and the population is enormous. Gambling found its way into the territory as far back as the history of the country. When Germany was divided, gambling was (and still is) monitored by individual state authorities. While some embraced it, some perpetually wrote it off as a criminal act.

During the 17th century, gambling became a popular street activity. In 1765 and 1824, the very first (also one of the oldest casinos ever) and the second (built by architect Friedrich Weinbrenner) German casinos opened in Baden. Ever since more casinos have opened within the territory.

In 1872, however, all casinos were shut down following the country’s aim to unify. Fortunately, gambling was then legalized in 1933 and the casinos reopened. Further, the emerging wars and further challenges eventually put a pause to gambling within the regions. As wars were fought in the 20th century, the authorities could not regulate gambling facilities and activities anymore so gambling amongst the citizens became a street pastime and casinos shut down again. In 1950, those casinos finally reopened.

From the 1990s to 2000, gambling caught the attention of the united nation’s administration as an economy-benefitting industry. The growth was unprecedented as more and more casinos, racetracks, and cruise ships were established in the country.

Seeing this growth and lucrativeness, the administrative power of Germany decided to empower gambling and further regulate it properly. Nonetheless, the government played the monopoly card on the gambling industry after officially legalizing gambling in the late-20th century. The European Union, however, saw this monopoly as unlawful and enforced Germany to permit private companies and businesspeople to situate their gambling facilities within any German region.

According to the Federal Constitutional Court in March 2006, German sports betting industry was considered a monopoly, and operating against the German Constitution – and required to repurpose operations and comply to the laws before December 31st, 2007.

With more pressures from the European Union and the Federal Constitutional Court, Germany’s gambling industry was expected to be completely free by 2012. Today, German casinos and other gambling facilities are owned by private companies, foreign businesspeople, and – largely – by the government.

The laws are, however, controlled discretely by the 16 regions of Germany. That is, each region (Baden-Wurttemberg, Free State of Bavaria, Berlin, Brandenburg, Free Hanseatic City of Bremen, Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg, Hesse, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Lower Saxony, North Rhine-Westphalia, Rhineland-Palatinate, Saarland, Free State of Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt, Schleswig-Holstein, and Free State of Thuringia) can define its own laws, determine the limits, and state which gambling activity is legal or otherwise.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Internal Affairs are in control of all gambling facilities and activities within all German regions. Additionally, the laws are complicated and more confusing than one could imagine. For one, some regions (or the casinos, precisely) welcome players 21 years or older while the minimum of some is 18 years. Advertising and marketing is another complicated issue, as well as the expected income per gambling house. Also, employees undergo a long list of training before and after becoming an employee. Lastly, a player can only enter with a valid ID.

Current Gambling Climate

Casino gambling and all forms of gambling are completely legal in Germany. Although the laws are strict, there are almost 400 gambling facilities in Germany. This means the level of variation is extremely high. Therefore, Germany is readily available to satisfy the gambling needs of any German citizen, resident or tourist.

The gambling scene in Germany is absolutely pleasant. In addition to the wide variety of games and gambling activities available, most casinos feature a restaurant, bar, nightclub, and discotheque – a perfect delivery of entertainment. Germany might not be completely attractive to tourists and visitors, but it is a decent country where one can enjoy the many varieties of gambling.

There are casinos, sports betting shops, cruise ships, racinos, racetracks, lottery operators, and bingo halls – all described by luxury or proficiency.

Casinos in Germany by Area

The 350+ casinos and other gambling facilities in Germany are evenly spread throughout the regions. Mostly, a city or town features a single casino while some offer between two and 11. Berlin, the capital of Germany, is the largest gambling area with 11 gambling facilities, more than 770 gaming machines, and over 17 table games.

Other areas with more than one gambling facilities include:

– Augsburg
– Bad Harzburg
– Bad Homburg
– Bad Oeynhausen
– Berg
– Bielefeld
– Braunschweig
– Bremen
– Bremerhaven
– Cologne
– Dortmund
– Duisburg
– Erlangen
– Essen
– Frankfurt
– Fürth
– Gelsenkirchen
– Göttingen
– Halle
– Hamburg
– Hameln
– Hannover
– Heilbronn
– Kiel
– Koblenz
– Leipzig
– Ludwigshafen
– Mannheim
– Mülheim
– Munich
– Münster
– Neu-Ulm
– Nürnberg
– Osnabrück
– Paderborn
– Saarbrücken
– Stuttgart
– Wiesbaden
– Wolfsburg
– Wuppertal
– Rostock
– Cuxhaven
– Dresden
– Düsseldorf
– Hassloch
– Krefeld
– Magdeburg.

When you account for all of the areas that have just one facility, there are even more options than just the areas listed above.

Furthermore, Spielbank Do-Hohensyburg (situated in Dortmund) is the largest gambling facility in Germany. The casino offers 400 gaming machines, 34 table games, and 10 poker tables. Spielbank Berlin – Fernsehturm is the second largest with five table games, four poker tables, and 260 gaming machines. Spielbank Kassel (Spielbank Kurfürsten Galerie) – offering one table game, 250 gaming machines, and three poker tables – is the third largest gambling facility in Germany.

Types of Casinos in Germany

There are almost 400 gambling facilities in Germany, definitely, there must be more than just casinos. The country features one of the highest numbers of cruise ships and racetracks in a single country – 14 and 48 respectively. The majority of casinos are situated in hotels and resorts but some are standalone casinos featuring luxury amenities.

They offer a wide range of slot machines, poker, and table games including blackjack, roulette, French roulette, American roulette, baccarat, Texas Hold’em, No Limit Hold’em, Omaha, 3 Card Poker, 7 Card Stud Poker, Ultimate Texas Hold’em, multi-roulette, bingo, and German Roulette. Poker – especially Texas Hold’em, No Limit Hold’em, Omaha and 7 Card Stud Poker – is very popular in Germany; bingo is not so popular, but used for charitable purposes.

Similar to most European countries, sports betting (especially on football or soccer) is the most popular form of gambling in Germany. German football clubs are admired by fans throughout the world, so – ideally – they are cherished in Germany as well. The popularity of football (soccer) is the main reason why sports betting in Germany is so popular.

Lottery, similarly, is popular as a result of its worldwide popularity. Lotto 6 aus 49, Keno, and EuroMillions are the most popular lottery games offered by the national lottery operator. Lotto.de is the official website.

Licensing of online gambling operators, however, has been banned since 2012 following an interstate treaty but licensed operators between 2008 and 2012 are still active within the country – all thanks to a 2016 ruling by the EU. According to the ruling, gambling online is not illegal in Germany and Germans can access offshore online gambling websites without being prosecuted.

Facts About Casinos in Germany

– Depending on the actual casino, the minimum gambling age in Germany is 18 or 21 years.

– Because the law of gambling is considered a law of public order, states individually maintain their gambling laws. Therefore, states individually have their own Casino Acts and Gaming Ordinances.

– Social games, which are not based on chance, are not considered games of chance.

– The German Criminal Code precludes the association, publicizing, marketing or advertising of games of chance without an official permit.

– Most German casinos normally maintain a strict dress code. For one, while sandals, sneakers, and blue jeans are not allowed on men, a tie is a requirement.

– All German casinos require a valid ID or passport before entering the casino.

– According to Forbes magazine, the oldest casino in Germany – Casino Baden – is one of the top 10 richest casinos in the whole world.

– Germany is one of the few countries where the largest gambling facility is not located in the capital.

– Spielbank Berlin Casino features more than 118,000 square feet land footage.

– Pari-mutuel activities account for about 10% of the total German gambling industry.

– In Germany, lottery activities can only be organized for sporting, charitable, or cultural purposes and never for individual or business gain.

– Germany is a top contributor and host of the European Poker Tour and the Everest Poker European Championship.

– In 2006, a male German nurse won a lottery prize of $47.4 million.

– In the 17th century, Bingo was an activity for educational development; children would use it to learn maths and to spell, and the government used it to raise funds for charity.

– As of 2005, about $2 billion is spent on sports betting in Germany annually.

– bwin is arguably the most successful sports betting operator in Germany.

– Oddset is the state’s official sports betting provider in Germany. Oddset’s bets were worth $540 million in 2002 but dropped to $430 million in 2005 due to bwin’s success.

– In 2005, the German government attempted to ban bwin because of its nationwide success. However, in 2007, the EU opposed the attempt and the Administrative Court of Appeal vindicated bwin.

– Between 2012 and 2013, the Gaming Act of Schleswig-Holstein aimed at opposing the Interstate Treaty of 2012. Accordingly, online gambling is completely legal in this part of Germany.

– In 2013, Germany’s Ministry of Finance announced support of the Bitcoin cryptocurrency. However, Bitcoin gambling is under online gambling and so illegal according to German laws but legal according to the EU ruling.

– There are more than 274 gambling websites that accept Germans.

– In 2003, Germany witnessed a number of floods in which a 70-year-old Skaskonia-Anhalt retiree lost all his properties in one. In Bad Harzburg a few days later, he won a whopping amount of €759,161 playing slots.

– With almost 400 gambling facilities, Germany has one of the most developed gambling industry in the whole world.

Gambling business in Germany is legalized. The revenue of German casinos in 2015 amounted to 641 million EUR. The country is in fourth place among European countries in terms of casino profitability. This despite high taxes, which are considered one of the most onerous in Europe.

The general ground business is governed by Interstate Treaty on Gambling 2012. Additional laws are enacted separately by each of the 16 states. Online gambling is prohibited.

More than 60 casinos operate in Germany. Five and a half million people visit them every year. The staff of gambling establishments is about 5,000 employees.

Gambling legislation

The main law in the German gambling business is Interstate Treaty on Gambling 2012. It defines the protection of users, protection against fraud and measures against the illegal market. The law was passed by sixteen states in the same 2012. Only Schleswig-Holstein accepted it in 2013.

The state of Schleswig-Holstein in January 2012 proposed its own law, which issued 47 licenses for gambling establishments. The difference with this act was that it allowed online business. But then the government changed, and the province adopted a common Interstate Treaty on Gambling.

Slot machines are governed by federal law and the Trade Regulation Act and the Gaming Ordinance. Horse racing is controlled by the Federal Race Betting and Lottery Act of 1922 (as amended on August 31, 2016).

Organizing illegal games is punishable under two articles of the German Criminal Code – 284 and 285.

The states form their own Casino Acts and Casino Ordinances separately, which regulate local gambling.

The age limit is 18 years old. Land-based casinos in Baden-Württemberg and Bavaria do not allow visitors under the age of 21.

Gambling Regulators and Gambling Laws

Gambling regulators in Germany are state ministers or senators. In each state, ministers or senators have primary responsibility. They also appoint subordinate bodies responsible for organizing the gambling business in the field.

Local authorities are responsible for slot machines, on whose territory the machines are located. They also license and inspect slots. Sports betting points also belong to their powers.

There are a few more regulators:

Ministry of the Interior and Sports of Hesse – issues licenses for sports betting;
Darmstadt Regional Council – issues licenses for horse racing and brokers;
Lower Saxony Ministry of the Interior – responsible for blocking payments and issuing licenses for the national lottery;
Düsseldorf Regional Government – allows TV and online advertising for sports betting and lotteries;
the authorities of Hamburg and Rinland-Palatinate – responsible for some lotteries;
tax authorities in Frankfurt am Main – collect taxes on sports bets;
tax authorities in Neukölln (Berlin district) – collect value added tax on online casinos;
The Federal Minister of Finance can also influence gambling operators.

There is also a Gambling Committee of representatives from all German states. They also participate in sports betting licensing and Advertising Guidelines projects.

Conditions for obtaining a license in a gambling jurisdiction

Licenses for operating land-based casinos in Germany are issued by state authorities. The number of licenses is limited by local law. Somewhere permits are also issued to private operators, while somewhere they are completely prohibited from running a gambling business. Casino licenses are issued through a tender.

Typically, casino licenses are valid for 10 years with the option to renew for another 5 years. The cost is calculated based on the estimated gross income of the establishment. Typically a digit contains five to six zeros.

Licenses for sports betting sites are issued in the same way. Each state limits the number of points. For example, in Bavaria there can be 400 outlets, and in Hamburg – 200.

Licenses for slot machines outside the casino (in restaurants or arcade rooms) are not limited by law in number. However, licenses for arcade halls are very tightly regulated.

Such facilities in many states must be at a certain distance from schools, universities and addiction treatment centers. The maximum number of slot machines for one hall is 12 machines. Restaurants and bars must have no more than three slot machines. The cost of a license for an arcade hall is 150-3000 EUR depending on the state.

Bookmaker or sweepstakes licenses are governed by the Race Betting Lottery Act and are only issued to horse tracks or horse breeders.

Licensed varieties of gambling

There is no specific list of allowed and prohibited games. However, some games are more heavily regulated than others. For example, Germany has established a state monopoly on the lottery. Sports betting is subject to a number of strict restrictions, and online gambling is prohibited at all.

The following types of gambling are available in Germany:

poker;
betting;
sports betting;
horse racing and betting on them;
casino games (roulette, baccarat, blackjack, punto banco, craps, etc.);
slot machines and other machines;
terminal games;
bingo;
lottery.

Each state has its own rules for regulating gambling. Slot machines are mostly regulated by federal law.

Online gambling in the country

Online gambling in Germany is almost completely banned. Only 20 licenses for online sports betting have been issued. On the other hand, online betting on horse racing and promo licenses are allowed.

Applicants for licensing must prove that they have sufficient financial resources, are reliable and with the necessary experience. They also prove sufficient IT and technical supply.

Modern licenses for online activities are valid until the end of June 2019, although there is a possibility that the authorities will extend this period until 2024. Thereafter, the pilot period of the current legislation will end.

The cost of an online sports betting license is calculated on the expected income. The minimum rate is 0.01% for annual income up to EUR 30 million.

Popular slot machines in the country

Among the most popular slot machines are machines from manufacturers that are popular all over the world: Greentube, Microgaming, Playtech and others. Here is an example of the most popular slots on German sites:

Book of Ra;
Lucky Lady’s Charm;
Game of Thrones;
Jurassic Park;
Sherlock Mistery;
Spiderman;
The Avengers.

The slot machines of the Austrian giant Greentube have proven themselves over the years. They are often highly volatile, with a fairly simple and almost never changing interface, and they also offer high payouts for expensive symbols.

More modern vendors like Microgaming and Playtech attract attention with their bright and unusual gameplay, favorite characters and a lot of bonuses. Such slots often have multilevel free spins or interactive additional games.

Gambling software developers

Gambling Laws In Germany

There are two major manufacturers based in Germany:

Bally Wulff Automaten;
Gauselmann Group.

Online Gambling In Germany

Bally Wulff Automaten is a cabinet and slot machine manufacturer. The developer is based in Berlin and mainly focuses on the German market. The company was founded in 1950. The company is now owned by the SCHMIDT Group, a major German supplier of IT products.

Gauselmann Group is a corporation that produces games and slot machines, cabinets, builds entertainment centers and casinos, develops solutions for sports betting and bingo. Also supplies systems for financial management.

Online Gambling In Germany

Findings