Is Online Gambling Illegal In Germany
Posted By admin On 03/08/22Historical, 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.
The underground iGaming industry has grown considerably over the last couple of years and has attracted a significant proportion of online gamblers in Germany. Germany’s gambling regulator has been looking for ways to crackdown on illegal gambling websites and had earlier proposed a bill that would allow authorities to block all financial. Despite the prohibition of online casinos in the territory of Germany, gambling companies search for loopholes and find them successfully. As recent country’s gambling news shows, regulators and payment solution providers are ready to turn a blind eye to their operation.
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.
Is Online Gambling Allowed In Germany
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.
Is Online Gambling Illegal In Germany Now
– 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.
Related Posts:
Marina
Administrator
Of course, as history shows, this is totally ineffective. While most jurisdictions focus on penalties for the casino operator or betting hall, others target the individual players.
If you’re based in an area that permits gambling, but sometimes travel to other countries, it’s a good idea to become familiar with the local laws.
Middle East/ West Asia
Much of the Middle East operates under Islamic laws, which do not permit gambling of any kind. Although some areas permit betting on races, it’s generally best to avoid it altogether. There are a
few places which have clear laws against casinos and other betting venues, like Kuwait and Qatar, but the penalties for placing wagers is not obvious. Some reports indicate that at least one gambler
was beheaded in 2011 in Kuwait as a penalty for gambling, but this cannot be confirmed. If you travel to the Middle East and wish to gamble, even if it’s only online, be sure to verify whether it is
permitted in your exact location. A few areas with known policy are detailed below.
- Bangladesh- Horseracing and some other contests involving prizes are permitted, but most other forms can result in one month of imprisonment and a fine of 100 taka.
- Brunei- All forms of gambling are illegal in Brunei. They actually take it a step further, though, and anyone caught running away from a betting hall will receive the same
penalty of a better, which is up to six months in prison and a 10,000 dollar fine. - Pakistan- Only bets on horseracing are allowed. All other forms of gambling may carry a 1,000 Pakistani-Rupee fine and a penalty of a year in prison.
- UAE- Although some exceptions are made for poker and for sportsbetting, such as on horse or camel races, all other forms of gambling are illegal.
Even though most betting websites are not blocked within the region, those who are caught using them can be imprisoned for up to two years and be fined as much as 20,000 dirhams.
Asia
It’s always a wise idea to double check local laws if you’re visiting anywhere in Asia. Although some countries have clear guidelines, others have surprising ones.
For instance, in Thailand, it’s illegal to even possess a deck of playing cards. Some of the better-defined laws are listed below.
- China- Some forms of gambling are allowed, but they’re heavily restricted. Although the law doesn’t have a penalty for a casual ambler,
someone who makes a living from it can be imprisoned for up to three years and be fined an undefined sum. - Hong Kong- There are only a few types of gabling permitted and it’s generally only allowed under certain circumstances.
Those found guilty of illegal gambling may receive up to a 30,000-dollar fine and 9 months in prison. - Japan- Some types of gaming are permitted in Japan. However, if you opt for an illegal variety,
you might be fined as much as 80,000 dollars and be imprisoned for three years. - Korea- Not only is betting banned in Korea, but Koreans are not allowed to gamble anywhere, ever.
The penalty either way is the same, which can include 3 years in prison or a fine of as much as 20 million won. - Malaysia- There is only one casino in Malaysia where gambling is allowed.
Outside of that, there may be a fine of 5,000 ringgit and a sentence of up to six months. - Singapore - There are only two betting venues that provide legal gambling opportunities in Singapore.
Even online betting from another establishment can result in a 5,000 Singaporean-dollar fine and up to six months in prison. - Taiwan- It’s generally illegal to gamble in Taiwan, though there are some exceptions. Should you be caught betting,
the police may confiscate all money on site and fine you as much as 3000 yuan, plus violators may spend as much as 3 years in prison. - Vietnam- The penalties for gambling in Vietnam vary by the total amount won or lost. For example, if you win or lose 50 million dong,
you may be fined up to 30 million dong. However, it also comes with a minimum prison sentence of three years, but you could receive as many as seven.
Other Areas
Many other areas allow gambling, in its entirety, provided it’s done at a lawful, regulated establishment.
Is Online Gambling Illegal In Germany Today
While Canada and the United States still have tighter restrictions on online gambling, the other countries detailed below are fairly lenient.Is Online Gambling Illegal In Germany Right Now
- New Zealand
- Spain
- The UK