The German playing regulator, Gemeinsame Glücksspielbehörde der Länder (GGL), has printed a complete FAQ to handle frequent misunderstandings concerning the legality of on-line on line casino choices. The purpose is to higher inform the general public concerning the licensing construction below the 2021 State Treaty on Gambling and distinguish official operators from unlawful ones, significantly the place misuse of the time period “online casino” is worried.
Since the enactment of the Glücksspielstaatsvertrag (GlüStV) in 2021, on-line playing has been permitted in Germany inside a strictly regulated framework. However, a significant supply of confusion lies in how the time period “online casino” is used. According to the treaty, this designation refers particularly to digital variations of conventional desk video games like roulette, blackjack, and baccarat. These video games are thought of significantly high-risk and, as such, are solely allowed below particular person state licenses, not by way of nationwide authorization by the GGL.
Who Issues Licenses for Online Casinos?
While the GGL regulates and licenses suppliers of digital slot machines—digitally rendered slot video games usually seen on on line casino web sites—it doesn’t situation permits for on-line on line casino desk video games. That duty lies with the playing authorities of every particular person German state. Only a couple of states have chosen to permit this class of video games.
As of 26 May 2025, solely Bavaria and Schleswig-Holstein have issued licenses for working on-line on line casino video games, totaling 5 energetic licenses. These licensed operators are listed within the GGL’s official whitelist, which additionally signifies the kind of playing they’re permitted to supply.
The whitelist is a central software for transparency, displaying whether or not a supplier holds a legitimate license, what sort of playing is permitted, and the territories by which the supplier is allowed to function. The listed suppliers should meet the treaty’s necessities on accountable playing measures, together with deposit limits, verified payouts, information safety requirements, registration protocols, and participation in nationwide exclusion databases like LUGAS and OASIS.
Virtual Slots vs. Online Casinos: Legal Definitions Matter
A key clarification made by the GGL is that digital slot suppliers are sometimes mistakenly labeled as “online casinos.” Under German regulation, these are two distinct classes. Virtual slots resemble the machines present in bodily arcades and are monitored straight by the GGL. In distinction, authorized on-line casinos refer solely to digital desk video games, which have to be licensed by particular person states because of their heightened threat potential.
Importantly, suppliers of digital slots aren’t allowed to promote themselves as on-line casinos. Despite this, many unlicensed operators and affiliate web sites deliberately misuse the time period “online casino” to achieve visibility in search engines like google and yahoo and entice prospects. These websites usually optimize for search phrases like “Online Casino Deutschland” or “Online Casino Echtgeld” with a view to rank greater on Google and related platforms.
GGL Targets Illegal Marketing and Urges Vigilance
To fight deceptive promotions and unlawful operators, the GGL screens search tendencies, opinions person studies, and cooperates with platforms like Google to take away unauthorized web sites from search outcomes. In 2024, Google up to date its promoting insurance policies in response to GGL suggestions, contributing to the removing of a number of unlawful listings.
Yet unlawful operators usually seem official, utilizing polished advertising and marketing methods and providing interesting incentives like no-deposit bonuses or free spins. These ways are designed to attract in unsuspecting gamers. The GGL subsequently strongly advises gamers to seek the advice of the whitelist earlier than partaking with any playing web site.
A GGL spokesperson warned that “many so-called online casinos found via internet searches are in fact illegal providers that exploit consumer confusion and use the term incorrectly.”
The Hidden Risks of Unlicensed Gambling
The risks of enjoying on unregulated playing websites are substantial. These embody:
- Legal penalties: Participating in unauthorized playing could be a felony offense, punishable by fines or imprisonment below §§ 284 and 285 of the German Criminal Code.
- Unsecured payouts: Illegitimate websites usually fail to pay out winnings or delay funds indefinitely.
- Manipulated video games: Without regulatory oversight, recreation outcomes could also be skewed or unfair.
- Data safety issues: Sensitive private data submitted to those platforms could also be misused or inadequately protected.
The GGL’s FAQ contains detailed directions on easy methods to acknowledge unlawful playing platforms, purple flags to look at for, and what customers can do if they believe a supplier is working unlawfully. These warnings kind a part of a broader initiative to make sure client safety in Germany’s evolving on-line playing market.
Source:
Was sind legale Online Casinos in Deutschland?, gluecksspiel-behoerde.de, May 27, 2025.
