Beginners Gambling Guide for Germany: FAQ Answered

True to its reputation, Germany is very precise and specific when it comes to gambling regulations. It should not be a problem finding a locally licensed place to bet and win with great content and promotions.

Things get a bit more complicated when players start searching for lobbies outside the country. There are so many factors to consider, including licensing, banking, games, promotions, and more. 

This is why we decided to put together a detailed roadmap for online gamblers from Germany. Many of the answers to the FAQ are for the newbie players but regulars will also find loads of useful information. This is due to the fact that Germany keeps updating its regulations regarding the industry, and there are a lot of updates rolling out regularly.

Our Take on Gambling in Germany

Players from Germany are currently navigating the changes in the local gambling regulations. While it may look like the assortment of content for smaller and the list of websites where the Germans can wager real money, shrunk, we also see good sides to this change. 

For starters, the industry is taking a dramatic turn towards keeping its players safe. What is also good about the updated local regulations is the fact that now, more than ever, an emphasis is put on the fact that gambling is a recreational activity, no more than that. 

And with all these things considered, players from Germany are still left with lots of great places to bet and win where they can place bets, spin the reels, and enjoy the action. We keep our list of Germany-friendly sites updated at all times, so don’t hesitate to check for the latest arrivals to our database.

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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Licensing and Legality

In Germany, online gambling is legal but regulated. Operators that apply for a local permit must meet a set of strict rules. However, gamblers from the reviewed country are also accepted in 100s of international Germany-friendly platforms. Such lobbies usually have licenses from Cyprus, Curacao, and a few other popular jurisdictions. 

Some time ago, Germany made its licensing requirements for online operators stricter. Among other things, it eliminated live dealer content, table games, jackpots, as well as any unnecessary mentions of the word “Casino”. The brands also had to clear lobbies of demo games, provide panic buttons and reality checks.

Under these new terms, many of the international platforms that have licenses across Europe either had to withdraw from the German market or create subdomains to meet the requirements of the regulator. This led to a smaller selection of local sites and to a smaller selection of games in international lobbies.

With all of the factors mentioned above considered, we understand the temptation of certain players to head to non-certified sites just to get access to favorite content that is now restricted. However, we strongly advise against playing in unlicensed lobbies. Platforms that are not supervised can easily provide rogue sofwtare, alter bonus terms and conditions, and delay or decline payout requests. These are just a few out of many reasons to steer clear of questionable places to bet and win.

It might help in the beginning. You may even get to deposit and wager real cash. But once it is time to withdraw the wins, you may fail the KYC and be blocked from an online operator. This leads to losing wins, deposits, and to overall frustration.

Banking and Payments

Yes, but in international lobbies. We did not see any Germany-authorized gambling sites that offer BTC, ETH, LTC, or other variations on top of Euros. One of the great platforms that accept gamers from the reviewed country and offer crypto is CyberSpins.

Look for websites that support Sofort or GiroPay. Based on our experience, there are more than 300 great gambling destinations that work with these services, including the popular Drueck Glueck site. Also, Klarna-friendly gambling brands are easy to find, and there are plenty of cashiers that offer Skrill or Neteller. Pay attention that the Paysafecard, which was formerly available to German players, is now excluded from the cashier of the brands with the local license.

Yes, German players are limited to depositing no more than 1,000 EUR per month per brand. In terms of withdrawals, a lot will depend on the cashout policy of the selected online operator.

E-wallets beat any bank-based method when it comes to speed. See for yourself. On average, players wait between 24 to 48 hours to receive wins to e-wallets, and from two workdays to receive withdrawals to cards or via bank transfers. Trada Spiele offers lots of fast-paying solutions.

A lot will depend on the selected method. Crypto-platforms often eliminate fees for deposits and withdrawals. When it comes to fiat cash, e-wallets and most of the payment services (except for cards) will have no deposit fees for the players because they receive commissions from online operators. When it comes to payouts, websites may charge additional service fees.

Promotions and Bonuses

Yes, platforms that accept players from Germany will still allow promotions, including bonus spins, cash match deals, tournaments, and more. If you play in a lobby authorized specifically for Germany, there is no need to check the availability of promotions with the help desk representatives. If, however, you register in an international lobby where Germany is allowed among other countries, it is a good idea to touch base with the help desk representatives. Sometimes, platforms may limit bonuses for certain countries.

No, they absolutely do not, even when they are credited as a no-deposit offer. Bonus spins, also known as free spins, are a great marketing tool to promote certain games or software or to keep the registered players engaged, but they also come with responsibilities. Check for the wagering requirements and complete them if you want to withdraw the wins from free spins.

No, this deal is optional, and not that many brands decide to keep it among promotions. But we do appreciate no-deposit bonuses, especially as welcome deals. They are easy to wager, while at the same time, they give newbies enough time and opportunities to test the services of a new platform.

Keep in mind that:

  • No-deposit bonuses, if available, are only credited to players that have accounts within a specific online operator.
  • Sometimes, the platforms may freeze a certain amount of cash in exchange for no-deposit deals. 

Platforms like RoadHouse Reels and PrimaPlay have great no-deposit deals.

Your next steps would be to check the T&C and understand, whether there are slot machines excluded from the rollover requirements. Then, check for the minimum and maximum bets allowed under the T&C, as well as for the deadlines.

Every bonus comes with the rollover terms that you will need to meet. For instance, you have deposited 10 Euros, and the wagering terms of the bonus are 25xBD. This means that you will need to roll over 25x the amount you have deposited on slots and 25x the amount you have won, too.

Some players find it very rewarding to be within the VIP program. It opens doors to unique promotions and deals, as well as improves certain services. VIP players often enjoy higher withdrawal limits, faster cashouts, and personal managers.

At the same time, being a VIP comes with obligations. Not only will you need to wager enough cash and accumulate enough loyalty points to get accepted. In some VIP programs, the platform can also require you to maintain a certain bankroll to remain a VIP.

Games and Software

Surprisingly, while Germany is home to several popular international developers, including Merkur Gaming and Gamomat (as well as a few others), not all of these companies will be available to the local gambling community.

That being said, the players are still able to enjoy content from Wazdan, Red Rake Gaming, Spearhead Studios, Net Entertainment, Pragmatic Play, Play’n GO, Microgaming, Relax Gaming, and others.

A good slot always has all of its important math and win information clearly stated in the rules. It indicates the level of volatility and the RTP, among other parameters. Plus, everyone will have their own idea of what a great reeled adventure should look like. If you are a high roller, we recommend checking if a game has high stakes. If you prefer to take things slow, look for the low-roller stakes.

There aren’t that many great tips, in our opinion. This is due to the fact that slots are games of chance and their mechanics leave minimum room to interfere with the outcomes. You can be smart about playing slots by deciding on the bankroll and sticking to it, as well as by keeping your emotions in check.

Plus, you can also choose among slots that have the optimal RTP, volatility, betting limits, and bonus features. Among other things, many players believe that the gambling round in slots significantly lowers the chances of big wins.

Yes, there are plenty of games inspired by the culture of the reviewed country, its traditions, and celebrations. One of the biggest cohorts of slots that we can think of off the top of our head are games dedicated to Octoberfest. There is Heidi at Octoberfest by Red Rake Gaming, as well as Oktoberfest by Nolimit City, to mention a few out of many games.

This is a requirement of the German regulator. Autoplay must be disabled in Germany-compliant lobbies. Plus, there will be a reality check every 60 minutes, and a cool-off 5-minute pause after the reality check. 

To remain compliant with the regulations, the licensed operators must remove all other game cohorts from the lobbies, leaving only slot machines.

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