Gambling in Germany is on the up. The industry is now worth a staggering €20 billion per year, and with it, there has been an expansion of Germany betting sites. With so many to choose from, it can be a minefield knowing which one to pick. So, we’ve taken the time to test, probe and review dozens of bookies fully accessible in Germany to see how they work, what they’re best for, and, most importantly, whether they’re any good.
- 1 Top German Bookmakers We Recommend for Betting
- 2 Reviewing Our Favourite Betting Sites in Germany
- 3 Laws and Limits for Online Betting in Germany
- 4 How to Bet Online in Germany
- 5 Popular Payment Methods in Germany
- 6 Sport Betting in Germany Explained
- 7 Best Online Casinos in Germany
- 8 How to Choose a Betting Site in Germany
- 9 Other Country Betting Sites
- 10 ThePuntersPage Final Say
- 11 German Betting Resources
- 12 German Betting Sites FAQs
Top German Bookmakers We Recommend for Betting
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100% up to €100 18+ Only valid for new customers who have registered and made their first real-money deposit. The bonus is a 100% of a player's first deposit up to 100 EUR. The minimum deposit amount for this promotion is 10 EUR. The player must wager the full amount of the first deposit at least once with wagering odds of at least 1.8. All bets must be finalized. Full T&Cs apply. Bet Responsibly. GambleAware.org #ad |
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Pick of the month
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18+ Register an account with 20BET. Choose this bonus and deposit at least €10. Get your sports betting bonus. This offer is only available to new players who have made their first deposit and selected this offer as their welcome bonus. The qualifying deposit must be made in a single transaction. All players must be over the age of 18 and of legal age to place bets. Only one 100% first deposit bonus is allowed per customer. The minimum deposit required to receive the bonus is 10 EUR. The maximum that can be granted in this promotion is 100 EUR. Full T&Cs apply. Bet Responsibly. GambleAware.org #ad |
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100% up to €150 18+ Register an account with Ivibet. Choose this bonus and deposit at least 10 EUR. Get your sports betting bonus! This offer is only available to new players who have made their first deposit and selected this offer as their welcome bonus. The qualifying deposit must be made in a single transaction. All players must be over the age of 18 and of legal age to place bets. Only one 100% first deposit bonus is allowed per customer. The minimum deposit required to receive the bonus is 10 EUR. The maximum that can be granted in this promotion is 150 EUR. The wagering requirement is 5x the bonus amount in accumulator bets. Each accumulator bet must contain at least two selections with total odds of 2 or higher. The bonus must be wagered within 7 days. Full T&Cs apply. Bet Responsibly. GambleAware.org #ad |
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100% First Deposit Bonus up to 122 EUR 18+ Applies to new customers only. Minimum deposit of Є1 required. 5 times wagering requirement. Bonus must be wagered within 7 days. Full T&Cs apply. Bet Responsibly. GambleAware.org #ad |
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50% Free Bet up to €200 18+ Bonus code: FIRST. Player gets a free bet with 50% of the first deposit sum. Free bets expire three days after they are claimed. Free bets can be used on all events, on both live and pre-match bets. Free bets can be used on unlimited amount of events, with odds from 1.01 to 2.00. Full T&Cs apply. Bet Responsibly. GambleAware.org #ad |
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100% up to €500 18+ Place your first deposit and get a 100% Bonus up to 500€. The minimum deposit to get the Bonus is 20€. Bets on Outright positions are not accepted. You can only benefit from this bonus ONCE and ONLY on your first deposit. Bonus will be credited to your account immediately after your first deposit. You should activate the bonus first and then place the bet, otherwise you will not get the bonus. This Bonus cannot be used in conjunction with any other promotion. Bonus is subject to a wagering requirement of x10 on a min. 2 events each with at least 1.4 odds before attempting any withdrawal. Once the Bonus is activated, the wagering requirement has to be completed within a maximum of 30 days, otherwise, the bonus and all generated winnings will be lost. Full T&Cs apply. Bet Responsibly. GambleAware.org #ad |
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Rising Star
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18+ Top up your balance with the minimum amount qualifying for this promotion. Complete the rollover requirements 1x the initial deposits with min. odds of 1.50. Get the 100% bonus. Only available to new customers who have registered and made their first real-money deposit. The bonus is 100% of a player's first deposit up to 100 EUR. The minimum qualifying deposit amount for this promotion is 20 EUR. Full T&Cs apply. Bet Responsibly. GambleAware.org #ad |
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100% up to 250€ + 100 Free spins 18+ Full T&Cs apply. Bet Responsibly. GambleAware.org #ad |
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Bonus: 100% up to 1926 EUR + 4 Freebets 18+ Top up your balance with the minimum amount qualifying for this promotion. Complete the rollover requirements 1x the initial deposits with min. odds of 1.50. Get the 100% bonus. Only available to new customers who have registered and made their first real-money deposit. The bonus is 100% of a player's first deposit up to 100 EUR. The minimum qualifying deposit amount for this promotion is 20 EUR. Full T&Cs apply. Bet Responsibly. GambleAware.org #ad |
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100% up to €100 + 200 Free Spins 18+ Only available to new customers. Bonus is 100% of player’s first deposit up to €100. Max bonus is €200. €20 minimum deposit. No Skrill/NETELLER deposits. Full T&Cs apply. Bet Responsibly. GambleAware.org #ad |
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Reviewing Our Favourite Betting Sites in Germany
To expand on our list of the best betting sites in Germany, we’ve taken the top three and given you a little more about how they work and what it is that we like about them. See this as a quickfire overview, if you will.
1. Playzilla
The sportsbook at PlayZilla is one of the best we’ve tested. It’s heavily weighted by football, but that’s not a bad thing. You’ve extensive coverage of the Bundesliga, Premier League and other top Euro leagues, with 200+ markets to bet on with the higher-profile matches.
For live betting, there are few better. The HUB lets you track games as they run and provides up-to-date data on on-field action. We loved the inclusion of the bet builder – a rare feature for live betting – and their odds across the board are very competitive, with margins hovering around 4-7%.
Finally, the promotions. Wow. What a range to choose from. The welcome bonus is easy to claim and clear. Then you’ve access to the likes of a bore draw refund, two goals early payout, acca boost up to 100%, enhanced odds, weekly reload bonuses and cash back bonuses. If there were just one reason to sign up for PlayZilla, it would be the promotions.
Stick around for the promos
Jonathan Askew: PlayZilla is all about the offers and promotions. If you’re a new or an existing account, there’s something for you. I love that you can claim cash back on your losses and even get a weekly reload bonus to boost your balance. The sportsbook is great, it does everything I need it to, but the offers are what elevate it to the next level.
2. 22bet
22bet is another of our top German betting site picks. They stand out for the attention to detail in more niche sports, like cricket, esports and volleyball. Granted, not the mainstream German sports, which are still covered well, but if it’s diversity you’re after, 22bet should be your go-to.
The layout is a little more old school than PlayZilla. We quite like it, but we know some aren’t as keen. It does, however, function well, and the transition from desktop to mobile is flawless.
Promotions include a strong welcome offer, cashback, reload bonuses and weekly rebates. Again, not quite at PlayZilla’s levels, but better than 99% of German bookmakers, for sure.
Embrace the old school
Jonathan Askew: I love the old school layout of 22bet. It’s more stripped back than most and for a lot of the site, it functions better as a result. There’s not a lot here that others don’t offer, but they cover everything you’d need. It’s a great alternative to PlayZilla, and if you’re on the lookout for a new site with a great set of promotions, I’d highly recommend 22bet.
3. 20bet
20bet have recently added a horse racing section, which knocks the competition out of the park. You can access races from around the world, including the UK, Germany, South Africa and the USA. Race cards give you an overview of form, but one gripe we’d have is the lack of any insight that you might get from the Racing Post or something like that.
In terms of sports to bet on, they are well stocked. Football, tennis, the NFL and basketball are the headlines here in terms of numbers. We also loved the Copy Bets feature, where you can track bets that other 20bet users are placing. It creates a brilliant community feel, and it’s great knowing you’re betting with like-minded folk, railing the same cards.
Great community feel
Jonathan Askew: I know it’s been mentioned above, but I love that Copy Bet feature. You can track people who are in form and then see what and how much they’re betting on. If you’re new to online betting, it’s a great place to start and almost as good as our very own online betting tips, which I contribute to each week. Shameless plug, over.
Laws and Limits for Online Betting in Germany
The short of it is that the Glücksspielstaatsvertrag is the governing body in Germany. They passed a gambling law in 2021 that centralised the whole process for sports betting, slots, online poker and online casino.
In terms of tax, winnings are tax-free, and this covers all aspects of the gambling sector. The operators will pay a 5.3% tax on all stakes made. Regulated gambling sites must have a KYC (Know Your Customer) in place, and this is overseen by OASIS and LUGAS.
Players can deposit up to €1,000 per month, and this is across all operators. It’s max €1 per spin on the slots and no progressive jackpots, unfortunately.
How to Bet Online in Germany
As the range of bookmakers in Germany continues to increase, so does the ease of making your first bet. Below, we’ve outlined how that works.
Choose which German betting sites you want to use. Not sure which to pick? Choose from any of our recommendations on this page.
Create an account. It’ll take a matter of minutes from start to finish to create an account.
Once the account is set up, it’s time to make your first deposit. This can include crypto, SEPA transfer, PayPal, Skrill, Visa and Mastercard.
To find your first bet, first you need to research. Use tools like Kickform to help you find data that will help with bets and markets that offer value.
When the data stacks up, it’s time to place the bet. Click the odds to add to your betslip, select the amount you want to bet and confirm.
If your bet wins, it’s time to withdraw. Choose the payment method you want your funds returned to, enter the amount you want to withdraw, and confirm.
Using a VPN to Bet in Germany
You absolutely do not need a VPN friendly betting site to wager in Germany. But there are reasons you might want to use one, and we recommend it as good practice.
The most obvious one is an added layer of security. It can prevent people from accessing home or shared networks, leading to a myriad of issues for internet security.
It’s also vital if you’re travelling outside of Germany. Some of the best betting sites in Germany will only allow you access if you’re physically in the country, but using a VPN means that you can get access from anywhere in the world.
Popular Payment Methods in Germany
Crypto is by far and away the payment method of choice at new bookies in Germany. It’s quick, easy, secure and fast. And the best thing about it is that you don’t need to know how crypto works to deposit.
You see, the sites have it so you can buy crypto directly from them. This might be with your Visa or Mastercard, and all you do is complete the transaction as if you were buying Euros for a holiday.
The upsides of crypto wallets like Bitcoin, Ethereum, Tether and Litecoin are huge. Withdrawal times are instant, fees are capped at 0.1%, you’ve got a huge range of wallets to choose from and you might even make a few quid via the exchange rate.
Sport Betting in Germany Explained
Sports betting in Germany is on the up. Since the legalisation framework was put in place in July 2021, more brands have entered the market. Revenue is at an all-time high and is expected to surpass €50 billion by 2030.
Access to markets and some sports, however, is limited. For example, you can’t bet on secondary markets, like corner betting in football or prop bets in the NFL. As part of the legislation, it’s created a smaller, safer profile that we think will open the door.
Football Betting in Germany
Football betting is by far the most popular in Germany. In fact, over 75% of all bets that are taken online come from football. It’s a huge monopoly in the sport, and as the biggest, it often comes with the most markets and coverage.
The Bundesliga is by far the most popular domestic league. Teams like Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund lead the way in terms of support and the number of bets placed on them.
Other European leagues, such as the Premier League, Serie A, and La Liga, also have strong followings in Germany.
Tennis Betting in Germany
Tennis may play second fiddle to football when it comes to online betting in Germany, but in terms of numbers, it pales in significance. It’s estimated that around 10-15% of all bets are placed on tennis, and while it’s the country’s second biggest sport, in terms of revenue, we’re talking low hundreds of millions of Euros.
What’s interesting is that around 90% of all tennis bets are in-play. This is linked to the increase in live streaming, with dozens of games per day on the WTA and ATP available across the best German bookmakers.
NFL Betting in Germany
NFL in Germany is booming. It’s now one of the biggest markets outside of the United States, with around 19 million fans and 3.6 million of those classed as “avid”.
A lot of the sports' popularity has been built on the back of Germany hosting regular-season games in Munich, Frankfurt and more recently, Berlin. It takes around 1-3% of the total bets, so it’s tiny compared with football and even tennis, but it’s growing. And quickly.
Punters love access to player and team props. Equivalent markets are often restricted for football betting, so having a diverse range to choose from in the NFL has proved incredibly popular.
Best Online Casinos in Germany
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200% deposit match up to €100 + 50 free spins 18+ Free spins paid at 10 per day; 35x wagering on the welcome offer; 10 days to complete wagering; Max bet per spin of €5; Deposits with Neteller and Skrill are ineligible. Full T&Cs apply. Bet Responsibly. GambleAware.org #ad |
The popularity of online casinos in Germany is growing, but access is still quite limited. When the reformed gambling act (Glücksspielstaatsvertrag) was passed in 2021, it did so with caveats. Some of these included €1,000 per month deposit limits, €1 max per spin and restrictions on traditional casino games, such as blackjack and roulette.
That said, the popularity and accessibility of online slots continue to rise, and 93% of all revenue comes from these games. As a result, almost all German betting sites that offer casino games have slots, and this will be by far the most common online casino game… for now, at least.
How to Choose a Betting Site in Germany
With so many German betting sites to choose from, it can seem quite overwhelming. So, to help you create a foolproof strategy for picking the right site, we’ve created one. This is what to look out for:
You’ll be overwhelmed with betting offers and promotions with new accounts, but once the welcome offer is claimed, the most important part is getting the best possible odds. This will mean you get the biggest ROI on your bets every time.
The reality is that you’re never going to get the best odds for every sport or market at one single bookmaker. You need to shop around and find who has the best price.
Next up are the bonuses. Each of the bookies will have a bonus or promotion you can claim. This will vary in terms of size and quality. It’s not always just about getting the biggest promotion, either. You need to check the terms and conditions, as some are easier to clear than others.
The easiest thing to do is check the promotions on this page as we break down exactly how they work. Things to look out for are wagering requirements, expiry dates, minimum odds and deposit type qualification.
Licensed betting sites are an absolute must. This means that the bookies are meeting minimum standards and regulations when it comes to game integrity and player safety.
Some licenses are better than others. For example, some will go to greater lengths in meeting their minimum requirements to access the license. Generally, these are preferred, and we target sites that do exactly this by going above and beyond to ensure player safety.
If you’re betting in Germany, you’re going to want to bet in Euros. Most bookies will cover multiple currencies, but given that Euros are widely accepted in so many countries, it makes sense to go with this.
Other Country Betting Sites
ThePuntersPage Final Say
Choosing the best German betting sites will differ depending on what you need from that site. But before you dive in and make your pick, use the information we’ve outlined on this page to get an idea of what to look for. That might be sports, markets, odds, promotions or even existing player offers. Whatever it is, there is something for you on offer. Use our recommendations as a guide and tailor them to what you’re looking for from your German betting sites.
German Betting Resources
German Betting Sites FAQs
PlayZilla, 22bet and 20bet are the best three German betting sites right now. They cover a huge range of sports and markets, and have excellent welcome offers for new accounts.
Yes, it is. You can access a host of German betting sites legally since they changed the laws in 2021 to allow online betting.
Most German betting sites accept Euros as the main currency.
Crypto is by far the fastest-growing and most popular payment method in Germany. Generally, there are no fees involved, and withdrawals are processed instantly with most betting sites.
No, gambling winnings are not subject to income tax. The tax burden falls on the gambling operator only.