Gambling Laws in Germany: Legality, Regulators and What Chinese Citizens Should Know

Is gambling legal in Germany? Yes, but only with operators that hold a German licence. Land-based casinos, arcades, state lotteries, sports betting, and online virtual slot machines and online poker can all operate legally, provided the operator is licensed by a federal state or by the Joint Gambling Authority of the Federal States (GGL). A website without a German licence is illegal gambling, even if it is reachable from Germany and offers a Chinese-language interface.

For newcomers from China, the biggest difference is this: at home, almost everything except the welfare and sports lotteries is illegal; in Germany the legal market is large but tightly managed, with a monthly deposit cap, a nationwide self-exclusion system and rules under which players on illegal sites can themselves face criminal liability. Below we cover law, regulators, age, tax, advertising and help services, as of October 2026.

German gambling law: what is legal and what is not

The core law is the State Treaty on Gambling 2021 (GlüStV 2021), in force since 1 July 2021. Section 4 states that public gambling may only be offered or brokered with a permit from the competent authority; offering or brokering without one, and assisting payments for unlicensed gambling, are prohibited. Internet gambling is banned in principle, with exceptions only for the listed categories: lotteries, sports and horse betting, online casino games, virtual slot machine games and online poker.

For more detail on venues and online platforms, see our guide to casinos in Germany and guide to online gambling in Germany.

Gambling regulators in Germany: the GGL and the states

Germany is a federation, and gambling is mainly a matter for its 16 states. Cross-state gambling, especially on the internet, is handled by the GGL, a joint authority set up by the states on 1 July 2021 and based in Halle (Saale). Land-based casinos, lotteries and arcades remain under state supervision.

Under Section 9(8) GlüStV 2021 the GGL publishes an official Whitelist. According to the GGL Activity Report 2025, as of 31 December 2025 the Whitelist contained 135 GGL-supervised operators or intermediaries with 232 associated websites, including 37 for virtual slot machine games, 28 for sports betting and 5 for online poker. The Whitelist also lists state-supervised lotteries and casino games, and was last updated on 2 October 2026. Checking the GGL Whitelist before you play is the most direct way to know whether a site is legal; licensed operators must also state their permit and the issuing authority on their homepage.

At the ECB reference rate of 22 October 2026 (€1 ≈ ¥7.4786), players’ net losses in Germany’s legal market in 2025, about €14.4bn, equal roughly ¥107.7bn. The GGL report also notes that 36.4% of adults aged 18 to 70 took part in at least one form of gambling in the previous 12 months, and about 2.2% may be affected by a gambling disorder.

Special rules for online gambling

• Monthly deposit cap: Under Section 6c GlüStV, players must set a monthly deposit limit that applies across all operators when registering; as a rule it may not exceed €1,000 (about ¥7,479). Increases take effect only after seven days; reductions apply immediately. Lotteries drawn no more than twice a week are exempt.
• Identity and age checks: Section 4(5) requires online operators to exclude minors and blocked players through identification and authentication, and bans lending to players.
• Panic button: According to the European Consumer Centre Germany, licensed online operators must provide a panic button that locks you out for 24 hours.
• Stake per spin: virtual slot machine games are capped at €1 per spin by default (Section 22a GlüStV). According to media and addiction-support organisations, a GGL decision guideline in force since 1 July 2026 lets licensed operators raise this under conditions: up to €3 for players aged 21 or over, and up to €5 for players aged 21 or over with 90 days without warning signs who consent to enhanced monitoring; the guideline runs until the end of 2027.

Gambling age in Germany and ID

Section 4(3) GlüStV states that minors may not take part in public gambling and operators must ensure they are excluded, so the minimum age for legal gambling in Germany is 18. Land-based casinos, arcades and betting shops must check your identity and query the national exclusion system OASIS on every entry, so carry your passport or German residence card. Individual casinos may have stricter dress or entry rules; follow the venue’s notices.

Gambling tax in Germany: do players pay tax?

For ordinary players, winnings from lotteries, sports bets and casinos are generally not subject to income tax, because gambling is not one of the income types listed in German income tax law (as explained by the consumer publication Stiftung Warentest, a secondary source). The exception is professional-style play: in its judgment X R 8/21 of 22 February 2023, the Federal Fiscal Court held that online poker gains going beyond a hobby can be taxed as business income (as summarised by PwC). If you are also a Chinese tax resident, see our article on Chinese tax residency for reporting foreign income.

The tax burden falls mainly on operators: Section 18 of the Racing Betting and Lottery Act (RennwLottG) sets sports betting tax at 5.3% of stakes, and Section 38 sets the virtual slot machine tax at 5.3% as well. GGL data show gambling-related taxes and levies of about €6.9bn in 2025.

Gambling advertising rules in Germany

• Section 5 GlüStV: between 6:00 and 21:00 every day, no advertising for virtual slot machine games, online poker or online casino games on broadcast media or the internet.
• No betting advertising for a sports event on the same channel immediately before or during its live broadcast; sports betting ads may not feature active athletes or officials.
• Advertising must not target minors, mislead about chances of winning, or suggest that gambling can solve financial problems.
• Advertising and sponsorship for unlicensed gambling are banned outright; Section 284(4) of the Criminal Code (StGB) punishes this with up to one year in prison or a fine.

Legal risks of illegal platforms

Section 284 StGB provides that publicly organising gambling without official permission is punishable by up to two years in prison or a fine; commercial or gang-based offending carries three months to five years. Note Section 285: players who take part in such unlicensed public gambling can themselves face up to six months in prison or a fine of up to 180 daily rates. In its 2025 report the GGL also stated that online offers to play foreign lotteries such as Spain’s Christmas lottery “El Gordo” are not permitted in Germany.

The GGL estimates that illegal German-language online gambling generated about €547m in gross gambling revenue in 2024, roughly 4% of the legal market. In 2025 the GGL used prohibition orders, payment blocking and geo-blocking against illegal sites. We do not describe any illegal website or ways to bypass blocking.

Responsible gambling: OASIS exclusion and where to get help

Section 8 GlüStV establishes OASIS, a nationwide exclusion system covering all game types, run centrally by the Hessian gambling supervisory authority (Regierungspräsidium Darmstadt). Excluded players cannot enter arcades, casinos or betting shops, nor play sports betting, virtual slots or online poker on licensed platforms; lotteries drawn no more than twice a week are exempt.

1. ApplyIn writing or online to Regierungspräsidium Darmstadt
2. Choose a periodSelf-exclusion lasts at least three months; one year by default if no period is stated
3. Nationwide effectAll licensed venues and online platforms must query OASIS
4. No automatic expiryYou must apply in writing to lift it; it ends at the earliest one week after the application is received

The Federal Institute for Public Health (BIÖG, formerly BZgA) runs check-dein-spiel.de, offering free, anonymous phone counselling on 0800 1 37 27 00 and online counselling; the site is in German and English and has a page for phone counselling in other languages. To compare Whitelists and help resources elsewhere, see our pages on gambling laws in the UK and gambling laws in Spain.

FAQ

Is gambling legal in Germany?

Yes, but only with operators holding a German licence. Check the GGL Whitelist; unlicensed sites are illegal, and players themselves may breach Section 285 StGB.

Can Chinese tourists enter German casinos?

Yes, if aged 18 or over with valid ID; the venue will query OASIS. For entry details, see our casinos in Germany page.

Do I pay tax on winnings in Germany?

Ordinary players generally pay no income tax; professional players may be taxed on business income. Sending winnings home to China involves foreign exchange rules; see our personal forex guide.

How much can I deposit online per month in Germany?

As a rule €1,000 per month across all operators; in some cases it can be raised after a review, and the GGL has a specific procedure for increased limits.

For more on life in Germany, return to our Germany hub.

Sources

1. GGL – Tätigkeitsbericht 2025 (Juli 2026) (accessed October 2026)
2. GGL – Activity Report 2025 (English) (accessed October 2026)
3. GGL – GGL veröffentlicht Tätigkeitsbericht 2025 (3 July 2026) (accessed October 2026)
4. GGL – Tätigkeitsbericht 2024 press release (27 June 2025) (accessed October 2026)
5. GGL – Übersicht erlaubter Anbieter (Whitelist) (accessed October 2026)
6. GlüStV 2021 § 4 (Erlaubnis, Internetverbot, Minderjährige) (accessed October 2026)
7. GlüStV 2021 § 5 (Werbung) (accessed October 2026)
8. GlüStV 2021 § 6c (Einzahlungslimit) (accessed October 2026)
9. GlüStV 2021 § 8 (Sperrsystem) (accessed October 2026)
10. StGB § 284 – Unerlaubte Veranstaltung eines Glücksspiels (accessed October 2026)
11. StGB § 285 – Beteiligung am unerlaubten Glücksspiel (accessed October 2026)
12. RennwLottG § 18 – Steuersatz Sportwettensteuer (accessed October 2026)
13. RennwLottG § 38 – Steuersatz Virtuelle Automatensteuer (accessed October 2026)
14. BIÖG – check-dein-spiel.de (accessed October 2026)
15. Europäisches Verbraucherzentrum Deutschland – Spielersperre (OASIS) (accessed October 2026)
16. Stiftung Warentest – Glücksspiel-Gewinne und Steuern (media, backup) (accessed October 2026)
17. PwC Blog – BFH X R 8/21 zu Online-Poker (advisory, backup) (accessed October 2026)
18. ECB – Euro reference exchange rate CNY (accessed October 2026)
19. 中华人民共和国刑法修正案（十一）全文（政府网站转载） (accessed October 2026)