In this guide, we will explore the most popular betting sites in Germany, as well as the legality of online betting in the country, what factors make them stand out, and the most popular payment methods for German customers. Read on to find out more!
- Best Betting Sites We Recommend for Betting in Germany
- Online Betting in Germany Explained
- Choosing a Good German Betting Site
- Is Online Betting Legal in Germany?
- Popular Payment Methods for German Customers
- Live Betting in Germany
- How To Bet Online in Germany
- Best German Betting Welcome Offers
- Other Country Betting Guides - Click Each Flag to Learn More
- Best German Betting Sites FAQs
- ThePuntersPage Final Say
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#1
20bet
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T&Cs APPLY, 18+ ONLY
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#2
LuckyElektra
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T&Cs APPLY, 18+ ONLY
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#3
Ivibet
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T&Cs APPLY, 18+ ONLY
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#4
PlayZilla
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T&Cs APPLY, 18+ ONLY
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#5
ExciteWin
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T&Cs APPLY, 18+ ONLY
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#6
Rabona
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T&Cs APPLY, 18+ ONLY
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#7
Sportaza
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T&Cs APPLY, 18+ ONLY
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#8
Ditobet
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T&Cs APPLY, 18+ ONLY
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#9
MyStake
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T&Cs APPLY, 18+ ONLY
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#10
N1bet
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T&Cs APPLY, 18+ ONLY
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#11
Slotimo
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T&Cs APPLY, 18+ ONLY
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Online Betting in Germany Explained
Online betting is extremely popular in Germany – in fact, it generates 11.4% of all online betting revenue in Europe. It’s estimated that 12 million Germans have placed bets online at least once, two thirds of which gamble daily.
Unsurprisingly, football betting sites are the most popular among punters, followed by betting sites for horse racing and tennis.
While there are some restrictions and laws in place, the sports betting scene in Germany is quite similar to that of the United Kingdom.
Choosing a Good German Betting Site
With so much choice nowadays, it may be hard to actually decide on your bookmaker of choice. We’ve made it easy for you by handpicking the top 10 German betting sites out there, but if you are still undecided, here are a few factors that you should keep in mind:
- Always make sure that any site you choose has been licensed by the relevant authorities to ensure
- that they are following regulations keeping you protected.
- For your own convenience, you should choose a multilingual betting operator which offers services in English as well as German (if you can speak the language).
- Choose a betting site which offers the euro as a currency option to avoid paying hefty exchange rates.
- Before you sign up, browse through the markets on offer at the site you are interested in and check to see how competitive the odds are, and how high (or low) the margin of profit is on the end of the bookmaker.
- Take a look to see what kind of welcome bonus is on offer for new punters, as well as promotions running for existing customers, as this will benefit you massively in the long run.
- Bettors are limited to a cross-platform maximum monthly deposit limit of €1,000, so you should take care to choose bookmakers which best address your betting needs. On this note, you should know that the maximum amount you can wager on online slots is €1 per spin.
Is Online Betting Legal in Germany?
The landscape of online gambling in Germany has been constantly changing over the past few years. In 2016, the European Union ruled that German authorities were not permitted to restrict the activity of foreign online gambling sites. In addition, 15 out of 16 federal states outlawed online gambling altogether with the exception of Schleswig-Holsteinhad.
On the 1st of July, all 16 German states unanimously agreed to regulate online gambling. This meant that for the first time, international bookies could get licensed to operate online, and local bookmakers can apply for licences. Gambling was finally given back to the nation.
Along side this, a new gambling authority ‘Gemeinsamen Glücksspielbehörde der Länder’, or GGL for short, has been created to regulate existing sites as well as registering new ones.
The regulations are quite strict, although following them is obviously better than having online betting completely prohibited. These rules also allow for online casinos to operate, which were outright banned in the past as well. Below are the main points that you need to know.
- A maximum monthly deposit limit of €1,000 applies across all betting providers. This is to ensure that the risk of gambling problems and addiction in Germany is a low as possible.
- Live betting markets will also take a hit, limited to only Final Result and Next Scorer wagers.
- Slots are subject to a stake limit of €1 per spin with gambling advertising being restricted as well - operators will not be allowed to advertise from 6 a.m to 9 p.m.
German Online Gambling Tax Laws
The German government has introduced a gambling tax on all forms of online betting for bookmakers. Here is the situation so far.
- Online sports betting has a tax rate of 5%
- Online slots and poker sites pay an even higher rate of 5.3%.
- Finally, there’s a whopping 19% tax on total revenue for online casinos.
Note: In Germany, sports punters and casino players are not taxed on their winnings.
Popular Payment Methods for German Customers
Given the prevalence of PayPal in Germany, it is not surprising that the e-wallet is a popular option for online betting as well. Debit card, NETELLER, Skrill, Trustly and paysafecard are a few other popular payment methods. We suggest choosing one of these when using German betting sites, as they will likely offer the best ease-of-use.
It should be noted that the euro, being the local currency, is widely accepted by betting sites in Germany. Some payment methods charge a deposit or withdrawal fee, so before making a decision, you should go through all details governing minimum deposit and withdrawal amounts, along with any processing fees and durations involved. This information can be found on the payments section of your chosen bookie.
- You may be asked to verify your identity when you register at a betting site or when you initiate a withdrawal. This simply involves submitting a copy of an official ID document, such as your driver's licence or passport. Additionally, you may also be asked to provide a recent utility bill or bank statement.
Live Betting in Germany
At the time of writing, live betting in Germany operates the same way as it does in the United Kingdom. That being said, broadcasting rights for sporting events via livestreaming may be different.
A waiting time of 5 minutes will also apply when switching from one betting site to another. Unfortunately, we expect that this will be a huge disadvantage for customers who tend to place in-play bets after comparing multiple offers.
Our best German betting sites all offer live betting on sports, with many different markets to choose from. Therefore, it's always best to check what's available before signing up.
How To Bet Online in Germany
There is not much that separates online betting in Germany from online betting in the UK and other countries. Of course, there are different rules and regulations in place, but the basics remain the same.
The process of creating an account, depositing funds, placing bets, and withdrawing winnings is similar to doing so on top UK betting sites. While football is the most popular sport to bet on, punters also frequently look for basketball, handball, ice hockey, MMA, and boxing options as well. Horse racing and tennis have overtaken all these, though, with interest in both having greatly increased.
If you are a beginner, start small and place bets on sports and markets that you know well. The more experience that you gain over time, the better you will become at comparing the odds and placing smart bets.
Best German Betting Welcome Offers
Everyone loves a little extra boost to get your betting journey started in the best way possible. You might be thinking that such offers make little difference in the long run; however, these promotions are a huge part of why most punters decide to sign up to a certain bookmaker over another. Below are the best welcome bonuses we could find.
Sports Welcome Offers
The best betting sites in Germany mostly feature the lucrative offer of a 100% matched deposit in cash. This means that the bookmaker will double your initial deposit.
The best sites for this are Sportaza and ExciteWin, who both offer a 100% bonus up to €200.
Casino Welcome Offers
Once again, Sportaza and ExciteWin come up here, offering a brilliant 100% matched deposit up to €500 + 200 free spins. The rate is 20 free spins for every €24 deposited.
Other Country Betting Guides - Click Each Flag to Learn More
Australia
Brazil
Belgium
Canada
Denmark
France
Finland
Greece
Hungary
Hong Kong
India
Ireland
Italy
Netherlands
Nigeria
Portugal
Spain
Sweden
SA
Ukraine
UK
USA
Best German Betting Sites FAQs
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20bet, LuckyElekra, and SportZilla are some of the best overall betting sites in Germany.
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Yes, online betting is legal in Germany. However, there are a few limitations to take heed of, as mentioned above.
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The most popular payment methods for online betting in Germany are PayPal, debit card, NETELLER, Skrill, Trustly, and paysafecard.
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The euro, being the local currency, is widely accepted by online betting providers in Germany. However, when using international betting sites, other options will also be accepted.
ThePuntersPage Final Say
While there are some rules and regulations in place, betting online in Germany is not too different from what UK punters are used to in their own country – just be careful to use only reputable and licensed platforms. Keep in mind all the information mentioned in this guide, and to be on the safe side, pick a bookmaker from our list of recommendations above to get started!
Jeremy is a die hard Evertonian and a massive sports fan. If he’s not watching Everton, he’s either playing football or watching whatever sport he can find on TV. With a keen interest in sports betting, sports writing is a match made in heaven.
