• Gambling Age In Germany
• Gambling Laws In Germany
• Gambling In Germany Wikipedia
• Gambling Regulation In Germany
• History Of Gambling In Germany
• Online Gambling In Germany

The German Casino's also offer a wide variety of other games such as bingo, baccarat, poker, and other games of chance. A number of these casinos also cater for special needs such as the special needs of a disabled person. In fact most of the casinos for German citizens will provide an accommodation package for people that require special needs. 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.

Along with many other cultural contributions, the Romans are responsible for the spread of gambling among the European continent. This also holds true for the country of Germany.

Gambling in Germany dates back to the time when the Roman Empire took over Germanic territories. Betting was a popular activity amongst Ancient Roman soldiers. So, wherever they went, so did their gambling habits.

Germany was the home to one of the earliest casinos known to exist.

Today, there are many online casinos for gamblers in Germany, and gambling has remained popular in Germany since its inception; however, it has not always been condoned by the ruling authorities of every era.

Germany has a rich and interesting history, and this is particularly true when it comes to their relationship with gambling. Keep reading below for facts about its gambling history.

1 – Two of the Oldest Casinos in the World Are in Germany

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. This particular structure’s history actually dates back to Ancient Rome.

The modern structure that was built in 1810 was designed by architect Christian Zais. The historic mood of the Casino Wiesbaden includes statues dedicated to Greek mythology, very impressive chandeliers, and mosaic art.

However, in the past 100 years, the Casino Wiesbaden really started being a popular tourist attraction. Before then, casinos were met with some adversity because in 1872, all the casinos in Germany were closed.

In an attempt to unify Germany, casinos were again open for business in 1933. Then, the onset of WWII led to the German government’s inability to regulate any type of gambling establishments. So, once again, the casinos in Germany were closed.

Gambling Age In Germany

The closing of the casinos made gambling a street activity amongst the German people, and casinos such as this one remained closed until 1950.

Today, this casino is visited heavily by tourists and gamblers. Even though the building is old, the design and architectural elements inside are impeccable and timeless. The Casino Wiesbaden has almost 200 slot machines now. Roulette, blackjack, and baccarat are available for anyone who loves playing classic table games.

The Kurhaus of Baden-Baden is also a German casino with a rich history. The Kurhaus was built in 1824 by famed architect Friedrich Weinbrenner who is also responsible for the design of its Corinthian columns.

Today, the Kurhaus of Baden-Baden is an extremely popular tourist spot for both gamblers and non-gamblers alike.

2 – The Gambling Climate Changed After World War 2

With the end of World War 2, Germany saw many changes in their society. There was now a new constitution in place and casinos were once again to be opened. However, gambling was to be regulated by the individual states in the West.

These new gambling laws were mainly geared towards sports betting and lotteries. The effect these laws had on German casinos was that they restricted who could play at the gambling establishments, and many of the casinos required proof of residency in order to gamble there.

By 1995, these restrictions were completely lifted. In the late 20th century, the German government acknowledged the lucrative nature of gambling as a whole. Gambling once again became a respected institution but still faced many challenges.

The German government attempted to monopolize the gambling industry in their country. The European Union saw this happening and put an end to it. They made sure Germany allowed private companies and individuals to open gambling establishments within their country.

The state of sports betting in Germany was considered a monopoly as well, and this led to more intervention by the European Union in 2006.

Today, sports betting is extremely popular in Germany, and this is especially true of online sports betting. Now, private companies and individuals own gambling establishments on German soil, but most of the gambling establishments are owned and operated by the government.

3 – Online Sports Betting Is Extremely Popular

With online sports betting being a rather new frontier, it has gained popularity all over the globe. Germany is no exception to this and Germans love betting on sports.

The FIFA World Cup has been won four times by Germany, and it is no wonder that soccer is a popular sport not only to watch but to bet on in the country. 80% of all sports bets in Germany are on soccer. Other popular sports that are bet on include tennis, handball, and ice hockey.

However, with the popularity of online sports betting rising in Germany, comes the need for the law to adapt. Many bookmakers have taken advantage of the fact that laws are not clear when it comes to online sports betting in Germany, which is evidenced by the existence of so many German sportsbooks.

Bwin, headquartered in Vienna, is a company that has opened the door for other sports bookmakers. Bwin was founded in 2007 and, within one year, Bwin had its first online gambling site up and running. One of the most compelling parts of the development of Bwin is their development and implementation of their live betting products.

The live betting features of Bwin allow players to bet on live sporting events while they are in play. The German Government saw the popularity and growth of business for Bwin and decided to restrict it from operating in Germany.

This ended up in a lawsuit where Bwin won and was allowed to operate in Germany, accepting both online and offline bets on sports. Today, online sports betting in Germany is considered a gray market.

4 – The Number of Gambling Facilities Is Approaching 400

With gambling being legal in Germany, there is now no shortage of gambling facilities in the country. There are almost 400 gambling establishments in Germany today. This includes more than just land-based casinos.

Cruise ships and racetracks are also in use and are extremely popular in Germany. Most land-based casinos are in resorts or hotels. The German population seems to love poker and a wide variety of poker games are offered at German casinos, including Seven-Card Stud, Omaha, and Texas Hold‘em.

The gambling age for casinos varies from casino to casino. The legal age can be anywhere from 18 to 21 years of age. German casinos are known for their strict enforcement of a dress code and many casinos require men to wear a tie.

Of course, sports betting continues to gain popularity in Germany and lottery games are also extremely popular. Some of the most popular lottery games include EuroMillions and keno.

5 – The Convenience of Online Gambling Has Made Germans Avid Gamblers

Everyone knows that online gambling is much more convenient than going to a land-based casino. Because of this, it is no surprise that Germans who usually would have never gambled are now doing so due to the convenience of online casinos.

The world of online casinos has become a very competitive one and has led to online casinos offering huge incentives for people to sign up with them. This mainly comes in the form of signup bonuses.

Online casinos offer many progressive jackpots that can make anyone a big winner right from the comfort of their own home.

Everyone that wants to gamble in Germany may not have the luxury of taking time out of their lives to travel all the way to a land-based casino. And others may not have the ability to buy clothes that adhere to dress codes enforced at German land-based casinos.

These are also reasons as to why online casinos have become such a popular option in Germany and have made gamblers out of people who otherwise would not have become avid gamblers.

Conclusion

Germany, just like many other countries around the world, has had its ups and downs with gambling and how to regulate it. Online gambling will continue to be a challenging terrain for the German government to maneuver.

However, this challenging situation is advantageous for online betting companies and online gamblers in Germany.

Did you enjoy reading about gambling in Germany? If so, let me know in the comments.

German gambling sites can be found by those German players who are industrious enough to know where to look for them. It can be a tricky situation for gamblers for Germany since the laws concerning online gambling are somewhat contradictory and confusing. Luckily, those Germans who wish to do some online wagering can place their bets with top gambling sites in physical locations where such operations are legal.

You might not know from the gambling laws within the country that German actually boasts a strong gambling culture. Sports wagering is readily accepted in the European country, and there are casinos spread throughout the country. Yet online gambling is a bit of murkier world.

Online gambling in Germany is technically illegal on a national level. But there are state laws that differ. And enforcement of the ban is essentially nonexistent on the side of the gamblers.

What that means is that legit online gambling sites from around the world are essentially open to German gamblers, or “punters” as they are sometimes labeled in the country. Choosing between those sites can be a tricky proposition. That’s why we’re here to help you by yielding as much information as we can about German gambling sites.

In this article, we’ll provide you with a detailed list of websites that will provide online gambling to German gamblers. We’ll also take a look at what makes these sites so solid and the banking setups for these sites. Laws in the country concerning online gambling will also be addressed so that, if you are checking in from Germany, you’ll know what to expect.

Gambling Laws In Germany

Top Online Gambling Sites Accepting Players from Germany

The following list displays the very best of the best when it comes to online gambling for German players. We have done the research and come up with the cream of the crop. If you live in Germany and want to get started in the world of internet gambling, these are the best places to start.

When dealing with German gambling sites, you have to understand that the phrase is actually a bit misleading. While there are a few sports books that are allowed to operate in the country, none of the sites that we have included in the list below are actually German websites. But they do allow gamblers from Germany, which is what really matters.

Because German lawmakers and law enforcers don’t actively pursue those players who gamble online with sites that operate outside of the country, there really aren’t any restrictions for players. They can essentially choose the safest, most reputable gambling sites in the world as if they were residents of a country where online gambling was legal.

We advise you to check out these sites for yourself to see which is the right fit. It is important, perhaps for Germans more than citizens of any other countries, to choose their site wisely. After all, since the activity of online gambling is technically illegal by the letter of the law, authorities will not help out any citizen who has an issue with their treatment from a site.

That’s why it crucial to look before you leap in terms of choosing among German gambling sites. Otherwise, you could end up wasting your money on an unsavory site run by scammers. You are much better off sticking with legitimate, established operations.

What Are the Gambling Laws in Germany?

If you are planning to partake in online gambling in Germany, it might be a good idea to take an in-depth look at the laws concerning the activity. That might be the best way for you to feel comfortable with your decision to move ahead.

For the sake of a quick look in this article, however, let’s just say that the laws on online wagering are confusing, to say the least. Like the United States, Germany is comprised of states with their own sets of laws. And, in many cases, these states will enact and enforce laws that could be considered contradictory to the laws of the overarching German government.

At the time of this writing, gambling online within the country of Germany is illegal. But what does that mean? Does that apply to sites trying to establish an online operation in Germany, or to German players who are doing the gambling?

On top of that, there is the fact that Germany is part of the European Union. And there are several countries within the EU where online gambling organizations are legal. Does that mean that German gamblers are OK to gamble there?

What makes it even more confusing is that gambling, as a whole, is legal in the country. Casinos are popular destinations and can be found throughout the country. Sports betting is also popular in the country and perfectly legal at sportsbooks locations.

Meanwhile, certain states have allowed licenses to some gambling operators to operate online in their jurisdictions. That seems to be a direct contradiction of the federal law. It’s enough to make your head spin.

So what does it all mean for the German gambler who wants to play some casino games online or place a sports bet in the same manner? Well, for the most part, you can go ahead and operate without concern. That’s because no prosecutions have ever taken place within the country for those who are trying to gamble online.

At the very worst, there conceivably could come a time when a site might not be allowed to accept money from the country. But, as far as we know, that isn’t the case right now.

Gambling In Germany Wikipedia

And, the way the regulatory winds are blowing within Germany, it seems that a posture of leniency in terms of gambling laws seems to be taking hold. That means that it’s doubtful that the worst-case scenario is in the offing.

If you live in Germany and you want to gamble online, there’s really nothing stopping you. Just make sure to do your research before making the jump to ensure you end up gambling with a trustworthy site.

Gambling Regulation In Germany

How Do I Know These Sites You’ve Recommended Are Legit?

It’s natural, even savvy, to think twice before settling on a gambling website. Sites that are reputable and honest are few and far between. Since you’re going to putting real money at stake on these German gambling sites, it’s understandable to be cautious about it.

Rest assured that we insist any online gambling site that we recommend is held to the strictest standards and criteria. You can believe that the sites that we’ve listed all pass muster in these areas, or else they wouldn’t be on this page.

But what if you were to encounter a Germany gambling site on your own that isn’t listed above? Let’s say you want to give it a shot. Well, you should be careful, and you should only commit if the following qualities are proven to be in place:

Customer Service Excellence

You are going to be gambling real money on this site, perhaps large sums of that money. As a result, you need to know that you will have any problems that might come up quickly addressed and solved. Otherwise, you could be left in the lurch.

Look for a site that makes clear its customer service contact information, and it’s ideal if there are several ways to contact them. Make sure that, in their initial dealings with you, they are courteous and professional, without doing too much of a hard sell to get your business. Finally, you should check out the experiences that past customers have had and see if they were positive or negative.

Lucrative Bonus Structure

A German gambling site that doesn’t offer you some sort of bonus for signing on with them is probably not established enough to be trusted. Most legit gambling sites aggressively court players. After all, the competition among gambling sites is intense, and those sites are looking for serious gamblers.

You need to go in with an idea of what you’re looking for in terms of incentives. Perhaps you need that initial deposit boost if you are only planning on gambling occasionally with the site. Or, if you intend to frequent the site with regularity, it might be better for you to have VIP bonuses coming your way.

In any case, make sure that you read the fine print for any bonus that you think might be worthwhile. You don’t want to be disappointed to find that you’re getting less than you expected.

Variety of Betting Options

The best gambling sites for German players are those that offer the widest selection of betting opportunities. Yes, Germany possesses many casinos and sportsbooks. But the benefit of gambling online is that you can do so with the utmost convenience, using your computer, tablet or phone, from wherever you might be located.

Ideally, your site of choice will be a kind of one-stop shop for your gambling needs. That means that it should include every type of casino entertainment, from the various table games to the many brands of slot machines and video poker on the market. It should also give you ample opportunity to bet on many different sports on an international level.

What Deposit Methods Are Available for German Gamblers?

Your banking options for participating in German gambling sites are varied. You really have to see what the site is all about in terms of what they can offer. And, if you’re unfamiliar with the concept of deposits, withdrawals and banking in general for online gambling and you’ll have a good foundation.

Here are some of the more widespread methods for German players:

• Credit Card or Bank Card Payments: This is the most common method of funding for online gambling accounts. When you set up your account with the site that you eventually choose, you will enter all of the pertinent information. You can then deposit funds as you wish for your gambling needs.
• PayPal: The online payment merchant basically removes a step or two from the process, streamlining your online gambling deposits. Obviously, you would need a PayPal account first, which is backed by a credit card or bank card in the first place.
• Cryptocurrency: Not all sites are yet on board with digital coins, but many of the top ones listed above have the ability to accept Bitcoin and other top offerings. Cryptocurrency is well-suited to the online gambling world since it provides extra layers of personal privacy and monetary security. On top of that, it operates beyond all borders, meaning that German gamblers can get access to sites anywhere in the world.

You also have to be aware of withdrawal policies for any site that you find that allows German gamblers to participate. After all, the ability to get your funds back into your hands in a timely fashion is crucial to the online gambling experience. Honest, legit sites will make their withdrawal guidelines clear and will follow them without exception.

Conclusion

History Of Gambling In Germany

If you plan on being a regular online gambler in Germany, you should go into the process with clear eyes about the laws and procedures. German gambling sites, instead of being located within the country, are, for now anyway, those sites around the world that allow Germans to gamble with them.

Online Gambling In Germany

But the bottom line is that they are open for business to German gamblers ready to play and win.