Best Online Casinos For German Players

Introduction

Germany has had a long and enduring gambling history reflected in many interesting facts and precious moments.

Fashionable Baden-Baden, for instance, is home to one of the world’s oldest casinos opened in 1824 within picturesque Kurhaus spa resort. Beloved place of many punters at that time, this playing house inspired the great Fyodor Dostoyevsky to write his famed The Gambler.

The witness of several turbulent periods, it was closed in 1872, then re-opened in 1933 after the legalization of gambling in the country. Shut again in 1944 during World War II, it resumed operations in 1950 and since then has been a never-ending source of entertainment.

Today, there are over 60 land-based casinos scattered across Germany. Half of them are state-owned, half are run by private enterprises. Despite the fact, that Germany carries some of the highest gaming tax burdens in Europe, it is still the fourth-highest earner in terms of revenue on the continent.

Recommended Online Casinos

And gambling online?

Well, similar to the United States, this area is mostly regulated by individual states, although the Interstate Treaty on Gambling 2012 seen as the main legal framework governing both terrestrial and online gambling. According to this document adopted by 15 of the 16 German states in 2012, and by Schleswig-Holstein in 2013, online casinos are banned, therefore cannot be licensed.

Schleswig-Holstein deserves special attention since it was the only state to refrain from signing the Treaty in 2012. Instead, it introduced its own Gambling Act and issued 25 sports betting and 23 online casino licenses.

Since 2013, when the new state government decided to join the Treaty, the state has tried to find a solution and save the regulated market. As for now, it relies on the transitional arrangement for sports betting and revalidating of licenses for online casinos.

In 2016, the EU ruled that Germany cannot penalize foreign operators since it doesn’t provide them an opportunity to acquire a license. As a result, an array of international websites offer their services to German players, all the more so gambling is a way past popular pastime in this European country with over 80 million people.

Tips For German Online Gambling

German punters have a great choice when it comes to online gambling platforms. Not only all globally-renowned sites but also many casinos oriented on different markets offer an interface in their native language.

Keep in mind...

...under German law you have no legal recourse when playing at foreign websites, it is of great importance to stick with reputable places. As always, the jurisdiction does matter: the stronger the license, the lesser the chance for eventual troubles with your money.

It goes without saying, that sites licensed in mentioned-above Schleswig-Holstein provide you with the best ‘Made in Germany” fun, 100% legal in the eyes of the country’s authorities. By the way, such places are often regulated by more than one jurisdictions being also approved by the Malta Gaming Authority, the UK Gambling Commission or other respectable agencies.

The easiest way to figure out the best possible options is to read the reviews of the casinos you are interested in prior to the opening of your account. Aiming to facilitate access to trustworthy and up-to-date information, we suggest you take advantage of the following reliable sources.

Trusted Portals

• Keytocasino.com 
• LCB.org
• WorldCasinoDirectory.com 
• RealMoneyAction.com

 

To contribute to the big idea of fair play we keep track of all places caught in non-payment of winnings or other signs of low-quality service. Always up-to-date, our blacklist is definitely worth a closer look, do not forget to consult it in order to save your time, money, and nerves.

One more thing that should never be ignored is the Terms and Conditions of each particular website, as well as T&C of various bonuses and promotions. Do not skip this fine print and do not underestimate its importance – the most attractive on first glance offers may remain an elusive goal due to unattainable wagering requirements or unreal time limits.

Live Dealer Options

With such a bountiful selection of vibrant venues out there, it won’t take long to find your favorite variant of roulette, blackjack, poker or baccarat that comes with an authentic brick-and-mortar atmosphere and friendly Live croupiers.

Indeed, no need to lower your sights at all!

Whether you prefer Europen or American wheel, Texas Hold’em or Carribean Stud, sophisticated technologies remove all obstacles between the screens of desktop or mobile devices and spirited tables set inside the most luxurious land-based casinos located around the globe.

Casino Trust and Security

Licensed websites are safe and secure. As we said before, protection of players’ rights is in direct correlation with the jurisdiction, but generally online casinos take this matter very seriously.

Besides using SSL encryption...

...the majority of sites take a number of other measures to protect all transactions and address eventual challenges related to the privacy and comfort of every customer.

If in the website’s footer you see the eCogra Seal of Approval, it means nothing less than an additional guarantee that a particular place meets high standards when it comes to the security of information storage, on-time processing of payments, and proper functioning of games’ RNGs. The latter is also tested by iTech Labs, so the presence of its logo is a solid proof of fair play.

Banking Information

Although the assortment of payment methods can vary greatly from place to place, mostly all known possibilities are featured and available: VISA, MasterCard, Paysafecard, instant eWallets such as Skrill and Neteller, as well as designed especially for German market Sofort.

Naturally, foreign websites offer a greater selection of banking options in comparison with the Schleswig-Holstein counterparts. When it comes to accepted currencies, the Euro is omnipresent and welcome literally everywhere.

Bitcoin and Other Crypto-options

Digital assets became a part of our life and no wonder more and more globally-oriented online venues cater to punters numerous advantages of Bitcoin, Litecoin, Etherium, Dogecoin, and other cryptocurrencies.

Back in 2013, the Federal Ministry of Finance (Germany) affirmed bitcoin as a "unit of account" that can be used for the purpose of tax and trading in the country. Still, it doesn’t have the official status of e-money. Considering the absence of any specific regulations, Bitcoin gambling is technically a form of online gambling, hence is treated by authorities in the same way.

Written by: Michael Shackleford