Types of Online Casino in Germany
On the one hand, the situation looks contradictory, but at the same time, gaming halls are located in all major cities in Germany, especially if they host more tournaments. By 2019, about 70 offline casinos have opened in Germany and each one is unique. Some halls look luxurious while other clubs are designed in a minimalist style.
Most of these clubs are equipped with a standard set of slot machines and poker/blackjack/roulette tables. As we have already said, many halls regularly hold various tournaments with large prize pools. Why are gaming halls still popular in Germany? This country has everything you need for tourism, so gambling in Germany is designed to increase the number of travellers.
Despite all these advantages, virtual gambling has obvious superiority. German gamers prefer to play on PC and smartphones because it is convenient. Furthermore, operators offer more entertainment and lots of sweet bonuses.
What types of online casinos popular in Germany? First of all, it is an instant-play platform. They are characterized by an extensive portfolio, licensed games, and friendly customer support. Such sites run in any browser and you do not need to waste time downloading and installing additional software.
Players who want to combine virtual gambling and the atmosphere of offline clubs choose live casinos presented in Germany in a wide range. Now you can choose any table game and fight with a professional croupier. HD broadcast allows you to immerse yourself in the atmosphere of the game in a few seconds and you can follow the opponent as if he/she was directly in front of you.
Mobile technologies are developing in all countries and Germany is no exception. These casinos are launched in all browsers or you can download the app on your smartphone and tablet. In any case, the interface and games will be of high quality since they are adapted for touch screens and their requirements. In some applications, the number of games is limited but this won’t ruin your session.
Most German operators drew attention to the popularity of cryptocurrency that has penetrated all areas of electronic business. In gambling, such Bitcoin and Litecoin coins give gamers many advantages including instant transactions and no fees. Besides, cryptocurrency provides anonymity.
Overall, German online casinos are offered in a wide variety offering thousands of slot machines and cool bonuses.
Types of Casino Games for German Gamblers
It sounds sad but virtual gambling is completely prohibited in Germany. An exception is only 20 licenses issued for sports betting. What to do? Well, German gamers visit foreign platforms, in particular, virtual casinos licensed in the UK. If you want to provide sports bets then you must prove the honesty of your resource and fulfil all the requirements. Valid licenses are active until the summer of 2019, but there is a chance that they will be renewed for another 5 years.
Now about the games themselves in German casinos. Most players in Germany, England, and other countries prefer video slots filled with interesting stories, funny characters, real payouts, and special characters. Here is a list of the most popular online slots on German sites:
- Book of Dead;
- Vikings;
- Game of Thrones;
- Jurassic Park;
- Batman vs Superman.
If you want to appreciate the benefits of modern gambling, then we recommend paying attention to the content of Betsoft/Play’nGo/Yggdrasil/Wazdan/NetEnt/Evolution Gaming. All these companies value their reputations, therefore they release only high-quality content.
Attention table game lovers! Each online casino offers table games in a wide variety. This means you can win real money in unpredictable roulette or improve your poker or blackjack skills. All games are endowed with high-quality graphics to bring the participant closer to the atmosphere of a real casino where dealers say Place your bets! We strongly recommend paying attention to live games. In addition to traditional card games and roulettes, this section offers the newest games like Sic Bo, Monopoly, Dream Catcher, Football Studio and so on. In this case, you will move to an equipped studio where you will meet real rivals.
Lotteries and scratch cards are no less popular. German gamers like to receive instant payments, besides, all these games have different thematic areas.
In 2019, 2 major providers are based in Germany: the Bally Wulff Automaten/Gauselmann Group. Bally Wulff is focused on the German gambling market because it releases thematic slots in large quantities. Moreover, it is one of the most experienced developers operating since 1950.
The Gauselmann Group builds many luxurious gaming halls, produces fascinating slot machines, and creates sports betting/lottery solutions.
In a word, your session at German virtual casinos will never be boring. You don’t even need to use a PC all the time since these games have been adapted for portable devices that we use in everyday life.
Online Gambling Laws and Regulations in Germany
Following the examples of other gambling countries, Germany has made gambling legal. At the moment, the country takes 4th place among all European countries that allow the construction of gaming halls.
The offline gambling industry has been regulated in Germany since 2012. The communication position of the business is complemented by separate laws passed in all 16 states. Thanks to the legalization of casinos, Germany attracts travellers every year. However, this does not show great effectiveness in connection with the prohibition of online gambling.
Back in 2012, Interstate Treaty on Gambling passed a major law designed to protect users and fight against illegal clubs. All states passed the law immediately but Schleswig-Holstein did this only in 2013.
In 2012, Schleswig-Holstein signed its law under which 47 gaming halls were licensed. Initially, this act did not prohibit gambling on the Internet, but a few weeks later the government changed its position by adopting the Interstate Treaty on Gambling.
The organization of illegal clubs and bets is punishable by two articles (284/285) of the German Penal Code. Almost all gaming halls set one age limit – 18 years, but gamers under the age of 21 are not allowed to play in Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg. All offline gambling industry in Germany is regulated by federal laws. Consequently, each state can issue licenses individually. Furthermore, every region has its own rule and requirements that apply to casinos and operators. Besides, all states reserve the right to set age, monetary, and other limits. The development and control of gambling in Germany are monitored by the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of the Interior.
Before obtaining a license in Germany, the operator must fulfil all the requirements. Rules and regulations are strict because the German government wants to keep the players safe. The registration procedure is pretty tough too. In order not to lose the license, the club must provide qualified employees who will undergo additional training. We have already talked about the age limits of players. To enter the game room and make at least one bet, you must provide a document (passport/driver’s license) and follow the dress code.
Recent studies of ludomania among German players have shown a disappointing result. Therefore, all local gambling-based establishments adhere to unspoken rules designed to reduce the percentage of addicted gamers. If the dealer noticed that the player is too active or he/she is spending a lot of money then the game will be stopped. By showing signs of addiction again, the player will be blacklisted. Removing such a ban will be very difficult. First, the gamer needs to undergo a course of treatment and provide positive results for the administration of the German casino. In addition, he/she must provide a statement of income.
So, the offline business is quite popular in Germany, but you are unlikely to find here an online casino operating legally. This type of entertainment is prohibited, therefore, local users and tourists are forced to win real money on foreign platforms licensed in the UK and other jurisdictions. The government tried to make virtual gambling legal several times, but it did not bring the matter to its logical conclusion.
Best Deposit Methods for German Gamblers
Internet users based in Germany can always pay for various services, services, and even the online rates of one of the local bank cards:
- Electronic Cash also is known as Girocard;
- GeldKarte.
Girocard is a multifunctional plastic card tied to Girokonto. In most German banks you can get this card free. As an owner, you can set different limits, for example, on the maximum withdrawal per month. Please note that interest is not charged on debit transactions. When issuing documents on a card, you should indicate a reliable address where all the information and PIN code will be sent. Girocard is great for paying for services and goods outside of Germany (in other EU countries) as it is integrated with Maestro / MasterCard.
GeldKarte is another popular payment tool in Germany. This is a unique card balance that is fixed in a digital chip for added security. So, it has become something between a traditional card and a modern e-wallet that you can use at any time. Also, GeldKarte can be linked to an account.
Sofort works with popular online services, so it has found many customers in Germany. As a rule, such transactions are processed instantly and they are safe since all data is carried out through secure services. As a result, Sofort has become popular among virtual casinos, various Forex brokers, and organizations that trade binary options.
German gamblers often choose services that have been operating on the international market for many years. Most often it is PayPal which is found on almost every gambling site. The system is highly protected and reliable in cash transactions. All you need to do is create an account specifying the necessary information. This information is not transferred to third parties, in addition, each client’s account is insured for 100 thousand dollars. But here is one problem – PayPal is suitable for transactions in dollars. To carry out transactions in other currencies, German players choose UK Skrill which offers more options. The system offers customers 40+ available currencies that allow you to send money to 200 countries. In addition, its website supports about 15 languages and data protection is guaranteed by 256-bit encryption.
Alternative payment instruments include: Visa; MasterCard; American Express.
In general, we can say that virtual payments are popular in Germany and local players have enough solutions that guarantee fast transactions and a high level of security.
Accepted Currencies in Germany
Given the fact that Germany is a member of the European Union, it is obvious that the national currency in the country is the euro. The Germans switched to European currency in 2002 until this year another currency was used in the country – German marks. In 2019, all brands are retired and the euro is one valid currency.
The Deutsche Mark appeared in Germany in 1948. Since then it has been used in all areas of business and life, showing relative stability. In circulation were both paper notes and metal coins with a nominal value of 1/2/5/10/50. Over the entire period of the existence of the German Mark, one of the central banks of the country issued several commemorative coins. Due to its stability, the brand appeared not only in Germany but also in Montenegro and Kosovo where it had the status of an unofficial unit of account.
In 1992, European leaders signed the Maastricht Treaty for a single currency. Before joining the European Union, countries must adapt their economies to specific criteria. First of all, this is a requirement for low inflation. According to this agreement, only Britain and Denmark were exempted from the transition to the agreement.
Since virtual casinos are prohibited in Germany, local players play on foreign venues that accept different currencies. Mostly this is the euro, but if you play in UK casinos then you can make deposits in pounds sterling or in dollars. It is worth noting the popularity of cryptocurrency that has become an integral part of many gambling clubs. Bitcoin/Litecoin provides instant transactions and they are always free. For German players, they provide another important advantage – anonymity. You become invisible to government agencies and banking institutions.
Predictions About the Future of Online Gambling in Germany
The development of land gambling is a top priority of the German government. So, gambling is designed to attract as much investment and tourists as possible to fill the treasury and create new jobs. Therefore, online gambling has not yet received legal status. Surely, there were several prerequisites but not one of them was successful. In this regard, Germany was faced with the discontent of other European countries where virtual gambling has a legal status and foreign operators work without restrictions. At the moment, German laws are not ready to accept bets online so players using the content of foreign sites may be punished with a fine or even imprisonment.
If you want to avoid punishment then play in legal online casinos licensed in Schleswig-Holstein. In this state, licenses were issued in 2012/13 and after new laws, licenses were not issued. Despite this, gaming halls still work and accept bets on the Internet legally.
Definitely, the code of laws in Germany needs updated revisions, as the popularity of virtual casinos is growing worldwide. The current situation is not beneficial to Germany itself and to the whole European Union which sees new perspectives. We hope that the government will revise the current laws, otherwise, Germany will face legal proceedings with EU members.