The Best Betting Sites in Germany – Top German Sportsbooks for 2024

Throughout this guide we introduce the best betting sites in Germany for a series of fundamental ranking criteria – from odds to welcome offers, we cover it all. If you’re on the hunt for undiscovered German sportsbooks, or just want to learn more about the legality and history of gambling in this country, then this is the guide for you.

Betting bonuses Germany

Top Betting Sites in Germany

  • πŸ₯‡ Bwin βœͺβ€―Superb First Deposit Offer
  • πŸ₯ˆ HAPPYBET βœͺβ€―Best Betting Site in Germany
  • πŸ₯‰ Betway βœͺβ€―High Odds and Mobile-Friendly Platform
  • ⭐ bet-at-home βœͺβ€―Amazing Welcome Bonus Package
  • ⭐ NEO.bet βœͺβ€―Free Bet Bonus

Above you can see the overall top bookmakers available in Germany. The German sportsbook market is diverse and there are many fantastic platforms that can be easily accessed. We took a deep dive looking at the industry in its entirety, and the results of our findings you can view by scrolling onwards through this page.

Each of the operators listed above have done well to make it to this list of the best online betting sites in Germany overall. There were many candidates and we had to eliminate a lot more sportsbooks than are displayed on this list. With that in mind, create an account with confidence that you’ll have access to everything you could need when playing at a German sportsbook.

Best Betting Sites in Germany by Category:
πŸ†Β Best Betting Site in Germany Bwin
πŸ†•Β Top New Betting Site in Germany bet-at-home
🎁 Best for Bonuses NEO.bet
⚑ Top Mobile App Bwin
πŸ” Β Best for Live Betting sportwetten.de
πŸ“ˆΒ Highest Payout Bookie Tipwin
πŸ’° Best Payments Betting Site bet365
πŸ”ŽΒ Safest Bookmaker Winamax
⬆️ Best eSports Betting Website Intertops
⭐ Top for Extra Features HAPPYBET

If you’re not decided on which operator to use and you’re in need of a good general, multi-purpose, betting site, then those listed above are really the best options for you. Opening an account takes just a few minutes, and you’ll even be able to claim a welcome bonus by following the links in the table above.

This page is designed to inform everybody about the possibilities of gambling in Germany. As one of the world’s leading commercial nations, Germany has become an economic powerhouse over the past two decades. Accompanying this wave of prosperity is an incredibly diverse and well-stocked industry of locally managed bookmakers. To learn more about the wider-context of betting in Germany check out the latest news articles from the region below.

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Germany
Best Betting Sites in Germany

Bet at Safe Bookies Verified by our Reviewers

Sports

Available Leagues and Events

Bonus

Top Bonuses and Promotions

Safety & Security

How to Trust a Betting Website

Gambling Resorts

Payout Levels in Germany

Payment

e-Wallets, Cards and More

Mobile

German Sports Betting Apps

Above you can see some of the ranking criteria we employed in this guide to deduce the top sports betting site in Germany. In the following paragraphs we will unpack each of them in more detail, providing our readers with the chance to tailor their experience. This flexible approach enables readers to pick an operator that performs strongest in an area of sports betting most important to them.

Ranking Variables for Best Online Bookmakers in Germany

Whilst our methodology does borrow elements from rigorous scientific sampling standards such as with return to player percentages, there is a lot of weight placed on the opinions of our researchers, particularly with more objective ranking measures like user-experience and sportsbook reputation. In this manner, you can be confident in our sports betting sites recommendations.

Every punter will have a different view on what constitutes a great betting experience. Of course, our ranking tries to incorporate elements that will be interesting to the widest audience possible. We aggregate the scores from each of the twelve criteria to produce an overall best ranked list. Jump now to an area of the review that appeals to your style of gambling the most.

Popular Sports in Germany

The first stop on our ranking journey of the sports betting sites in Germany is to discuss the availability of certain sports and leagues. Every punter loves to have a wide range of gambling options before them, and in Germany, a sporting powerhouse, you won’t be surprised to learn that bookmakers are comprehensive in their coverage of every sport imaginable.

Football: Global Champions

Germany has been in the elite tier of footballing nations for several decades, winning four World Cups and three European Championships. Domestically, FC Bayern are considered one of the strongest teams in world. Check out football betting sites right here.

Tennis: Big Hitters at All Levels

Tennis is widely played across Germany and over the years some fantastic players have been produced. Big stars of the sport in this county include Boris Becker and Steffi Graf, both winning handfuls of Grand Slams between them. Check out tennis betting sites right here.

Basketball: Strong Domestic League

The German basketball culture is vast, and there are many talented players competing at teams in the German Bundesliga (the domestic league). Top teams include Alba Berlin and Bayern Munich. Check out basketball betting sites right here.

F1: Top Level Drivers

Germany has produced some excellent talent on the racetrack over the years. The legendary Michael Schumacher dominated the sport during his generation, and more recently Sebastian Vettel has been flying the flag. Check out Formula 1 betting sites right here.

Ice Hockey: Strong European Team

Germany is a country that plays a lot of winter sports and one that they are particularly strong in is ice hockey, there are several top NHL players of German nationality including Tobias Rieder and Thomas Greiss. Check out ice hockey betting sites right here.

Cycling: Top-Tier Riders

Cycling is a sport that is popular across the entirety of Europe, many fantastic riders hail from Germany. In the Tour de France Germany regularly has a representative fighting in the general classification leaders. Check out cycling betting sites right here.

Of course the ultimate list of gambling options available at German bookmakers is not limited to just those on this list. Many German betting sites exist offering upwards of 35 sports. Given this magnitude of choice you can rest assured that you will almost always find exactly the sport you’re looking for at a German operator.

As for the amount of events being offered and the leagues being covered, this is a question of the bookmaker’s commitment to extensive market availability. Some operators excel in this regard whereas others do not. It’s always about finding the balance between a bookie that goes above and beyond with its betting options, and one that provides the niche markets you really want to bet on.

Odds Levels and Returns at Germany Bookies

There is nothing that garners a higher priority in the rankings than the best odds bookmakers. Unlike many of the other ranking criteria used, payout and odds directly affect your bottom line as a gambler. We value sportsbooks that can provide market leading odds on a consistent basis.

In our research we looked at all the available options for sports gambling in Germany. We took the best betting sites in Germany for payout rates, calculating this payout percentage on a series of popular sports market. Below is the result of our analysis, you can easily see for yourself how various bookmakers stack up against each other.

The payout rates can fluctuate tremendously depending on which sport is being bet on. For more traditional markets like football and tennis, the bookmakers’ odds are usually very close to the industry average. However, the variance increases significantly in more niche sports, or leagues lower down in the pyramid in the core sports markets.

Betting Bonuses and Ongoing Promotions

Betting companies are tireless in their efforts to recruit new customers to the platform. One of the most utilized tactics to drive user engagement and win bigger market share is to deploy betting offers. These promotions are often creative in design, and designed to appeal to the financial aspirations of the clientele using the betting platform. Take a look below at some of Germany’s best betting bonuses.

German Betting Site Welcome Bonus Deposit Features Rating Secure Link T&C’s
Up to €100 Welcome Bonus 1x 7 days 2.00 5.0/5 Visit Site! Full T&Cs Apply! New customer offer. Please gamble responsibly. 18+
Up to €150 Welcome Bonus 6x 90 days 1.50 4.9/5 Visit Site!
Up to €100 First Deposit Bonus 4x 90 days 1.70 4.8/5 Visit Site! Full T&Cs Apply! New customer offer. Please gamble responsibly. 18+
100% up to €100 Bet Credits 5x 100 days 1.50 4.7/5 Visit Site! Full T&Cs Apply! New customer offer. Please gamble responsibly. 18+
100% Up to €100 First Deposit Bonus 1x 90 days 2.00 4.6/5 Visit Site! Full T&Cs Apply! New customer offer. Please gamble responsibly. 18+

Promotions offered by online sportsbooks come in many shapes and sizes. The first most common type is bookmakers’ free bets tokens, with these you are given a β€˜voucher’ of a certain value, and can bet on any market but will only receive your winnings (stake not returned). Traditional betting bonuses are awarded and will be played through as bonus funds until the wagering conditions are fulfilled and the funds released as cash. The final common type of promotion is enhanced odds, which will be a specific market with higher than normal odds.

Bonus Category Betting Site
πŸ₯‡ Best Bonus in Germany bwin
πŸ₯ˆ Claim Easily bet-at-home
πŸ₯‰ High Returns NEO.bet
◻️ Big Bonus HAPPYBET
◻️ Free Bet Club sportwetten.de
◻️ Plenty of Promotions Tipwin

As we mentioned above, there are a number of conditions that have to be completed before you will receive access to bonus funds in the form of cash. Wagering requirements, minimum odds and validity are the three most important concepts to understand with a sportsbook bonus. Always check the terms and conditions of the offer before making the initial down payment.

Being aware of the wagering requirements is the most important aspect of a betting websites bonus offer. This could be anywhere from six to twelve times your initial deposit, which must be cumulatively bet in order to release the funds as withdrawable cash. Inextricably linked to this is the minimum odds and/or qualifying bet definition. For a bet to count towards the cumulative total it must be above a minimum odds threshold usually 4/5 (1.8) and above, and be a valid market.

You can probably understand now a bit more clearly that certain betting sites promotions are not all they’re set out to be. Some of these conditions can be seriously hard to meet, and many punters fail along the way and end up losing their initial deposit and bonus funds. You’ll also need to fulfil the wagering requirements within an allotted time, which can be anywhere from 7 to 30 days.

Markets and Bet Types

Moving on from the marketing efforts of the best sportsbooks, we look to the internal indicators of platform quality. Market variety and availability of different bets is a big feature for many punters, we all like to feel as if our hunches will be catered for. The best German sportsbooks recognize the importance of this and extend major coverage across all core sports.

As an example, a typical Bundesliga football match on a German betting site will have anywhere from 100 to 400+ betting markets, and the average is certainly closer to the top end of that range. It similar for all sports and many different leagues within them. Check out the table below for some examples of the betting types you can use at a bookmaker in this country.

Even if you’re only interested in a specific type of bet when using a sportsbook, it’s great to recognize that an operator is able to give you freedom to branch outside the normal groove. The bet types listed above are by no means a complete representation of all that is available. They are simply the common range of choices available to customers using betting sites in Germany.

Platform Security and Player Safety

Another essential part of the sportsbook ranking story is the facility to protect customers from external threats. These can be issues related to data privacy, responsible gambling, cyber security, fraud, addiction help, underage gambling prevention and many other pertinent issues the safest online betting sites concern themselves with.

There are many agencies, governmental organizations and technology firms that assist betting companies monitor and maintain the safety of their platforms. The table below is a brief overview of what you can expect. Look out for these partnerships if you’re unsure on the legitimacy of a betting operator.

Safety Partners at Online Sports Betting Sites in Germany

Being diligent about where you send your money on the internet is an important pre-requisite to not being scammed. Unfortunately there are many nefarious actors online and gambling is one of the industries most at risk of exploitation.

Top Data Safety and Encryption Companies
  • DigiCert
  • Entrust Datacard
  • GoDaddy
  • Comodo SSL
  • GenTrust
  • GlobalSign
  • Rapid SSL
Responsible Gambling Organizations
  • German Gambling Supervision Authority
  • Responsible Gaming Council
  • National Council on Problem Gambling
  • International Centre for Responsible Gambling
  • GambleAware
  • eCOGRA
  • IBAS

If in doubt over the legitimacy of a gambling site the first thing you should do is check out the credentials of the platform. These are fairly easy to find, simply scrolling to the bottom of the webpage should present you with the partnered organizations. Check independently with any regulatory agencies that the sports betting site is in possession of a license.

The bare minimum checks you should carry out if you’re unsure about the legitimacy of a platform is the license. Go over to the regulators website yourself and search for the bookmaker in question. This will reveal the terms of their license, which products they’re able to offer, the location of the headquarters and the expiry date of their operating license.

Bet on Mobile with the Best Sports Betting App

In the modern gambling world, mobile apps are the main source for a growing proportion of bets. The German betting apps industry is rich with quality options. The importance of a good betting app in today’s market is absolutely pivotal to success. For any company with serious ambitions, building a high-functioning and slick mobile app is absolutely mission critical.

When it comes to determining the best sports betting app in Germany, it really comes down to usability, transferability of features from desktop and the efficiency of which basic functions can be carried out. Of course, there are many other considerations like the navigation, graphics, color schemes etc. but generally speaking, a good betting app should feel well-engineered, bug-free and fun to use.

Top German Betting Apps

There is a large disparity between the mobile betting capabilities of certain operators and those at the bottom of the chain. Unlike on desktop, the difference in quality is far more noticeable when using a mobile app. Future investments into this field are inevitable, and to access a wider audience bookmakers around the world realize that mobile betting is the new frontier.

In-Play Betting & Live Streaming

The live betting and streaming aspects of an online sportsbooks are two more pivotal components that often go overlooked by new players. What many people don’t quite appreciate is that the in-play arena is an area of the sportsbook with the most technological advancement. It is an exciting part of the experience and weighed in heavily on our overall rankings of top German operators.

As we did at the top of this page in the general ranking category, here we would like to introduce the overall best live sports betting sites in their own right. There are of course many crossovers such as with odds and markets – but our in-play arena rankings only consider variables in the isolation of what can be received in-play. Pre-match variables have been disregarded for the rankings you can see below.

Live Betting Site Welcome Bonus Live Features Rating Secure Link T&C’s
100% up to €100 Free Bet 64+ Yes Yes 5.0/5 Visit Site! Full T&Cs Apply! New customer offer. Please gamble responsibly. 18+
150% up to €100 64+ Yes Yes 4.8/5 Visit Site! Full T&Cs Apply! New customer offer. Please gamble responsibly. 18+
100% up to €100 on First Deposit 167+ No Yes 4.8/5 Visit Site! Full T&Cs Apply! New customer offer. Please gamble responsibly. 18+
Up to €100 Free Bet 72+ Yes Yes 4.8/5 Visit Site! Full T&Cs Apply! New customer offer. Please gamble responsibly. 18+
100% Up to €100 First Deposit Bonus 68+ No Yes 4.8/5 Visit Site! Full T&Cs Apply! New customer offer. Please gamble responsibly. 18+

Having a top-class live betting arena means being able to offer a wide range of markets, industry leading odds, and an abundance of features to make your in-play experience all the more immersive. Specifically we look for live streaming, cashout and in-play graphics as mechanisms to advance the experience of the players.

Deposit Methods at German Betting Sites

The best sports betting site in Germany will also need to offer a wide range of payment options to support a diverse community of gamblers. Some punters will be fine using traditional bank payment options, whereas others will require a more comprehensive range of choices including eWallets and payment vouchers. In our criteria we consider all the possibilities.

Below is a brief overview of the payment options you can expect to find at the country’s top operators. This list is by no means an exhaustive range of payment methods, but is an inclusive sample of the most commonly used. If you don’t see the payment type you’re looking for specifically, do not worry, as we have omitted many options that were not abundantly available. You may just have to do a little bit more digging across the variety of operators available.

Payment Method Type Deposit Limits Deposit/Withdrawal Payment Fee
Debit Card €5 – €25,000 Available for Deposits / Available for Withdrawals No Fees
Credit Card €5 – €35,000 Available for Deposits / Not Available for Withdrawals No Fees
eWallet €10 – €12,500 Available for Deposits / Available for Withdrawals 1.5% – 1.5%
eWallet €10 – €9,000 Available for Deposits / Available for Withdrawals 1.5% – 1.5%
Crypto €10 – €5,000 Available for Deposits / Not Available for Withdrawals No Fees

When we judge bookmakers by payment method quality, we check not only the availability of deposit and withdrawal methods, but also the amount that’s possible to transfer. The fees applied to transactions are also put into consideration. When using a bookmaker for the first time make sure to verse yourself on the deposit limits and fees before committing to using a payment method for your transactions.

User Experience and Functionality

As we mentioned in one of the sections at the beginning of this review, certain parts of our discussion into German bookmakers will delve into the more objective areas of ranking. Whilst user-experience is difficult to quantify into a definitive list of best to worst, there are elements that can be easily picked out from a quality perspective. Navigation, load times, functionality, responsiveness and usability are not just buzzwords, and any experienced gambler will be able to identify a platform that does these things well.

Of course we incorporate both the desktop and mobile interface when using these variables to rank user-experience. They range from the very good to the substandard. One theme remains constant and that’s the correlation between well-funded betting sites and general platform quality. So there it is, look into the financial performance of a company you’re interested in betting with.

Features Added to Enhance Your Enjoyment

Extra features and nice-to-haves come in many different forms. We’ve mentioned quite a few of them already in this review and you probably understand by now that we value operators that are able to truly immerse their users in the complete gaming experience. Leaving no reason for the user to leave the platform is the direct result of good extra features qualities.

The table below indicates the online betting sites that are offering the best range of extra features for the German betting industry. You can see how we presented the crucial data, in a cross tabulated format it is easier to see which operator is offering each feature.

Betting Site Live Streaming Cashout Livescore Fast Bet Virtual Sports
Yes Yes Yes Yes No
Yes Yes Yes No No
No Yes Yes Yes Yes
No Yes Yes Yes No
No No No Yes No

As is evident from the table not every bookmaker will offer the full range of extra features on the sportsbook. There will in fact always be missing pieces because the full list of additional extra features is far bigger than those listed above. Don’t worry if you’re bookmaker doesn’t have the total range of features, there are many fantastic bookmakers offering extra features, the key is to shop around.

Customer Support Mechanisms

As is true for almost every single online business, except those in a monopoly market, customer facing companies must have good customer service to remain competitive. The top sports betting sites long-ago recognized the need to handle a whole myriad of customer inquiries in a quick and resolute manner.

The table below is an introductory example of which customer support options are available to you at any given moment when using a betting site in Germany. We have completed the table with the average response time for each options, the likelihood you will find the contact method in question, and the times that you can actively utilize this method to resolve any potential betting related issues.

Contact Method Availability at German Sportsbooks Response Time Usually Available
☎️ Telephone Common Up to 10 Minutes 12 hours a day
πŸ“§ E-Mail/Contact Form Common Up to 24 Hours 24/7
πŸ‘©β€βš•οΈ Live Chat Common Up to 10 Minutes 12 hours a day
πŸ’¬ Messenger Common Up to 10 Minutes 12 hours a day
🌐 Social Networks Common Up to 20 Minutes 24/7

To conclude this line of the review, we are specifically interested in the quality of contact mechanisms at a German sportsbook, and more importantly, the aptitude of the sportsbook employee to successfully resolve whatever problem you’re facing. For urgent issues we recommend utilizing the live chat function, and for less pressing concerns that can be articulated better in a letter format, we recommend sending an email.

The Reputation of the Bookmakers

Closely related to the customer service at the best sports betting sites in Germany is the reputation of the bookmaker. It can take many years for betting sites to build up the trust of a widespread and distributed userbase. But to ruin a reputation takes just a single day, or even just a terrible public relations disaster in one specific incident. Many companies have risen to the top just as fast as they fall back down, and this trend shows no signs of slowing.

In order to gauge the quality of the online bookmakers in Germany we explored a vast range of information sources to build up a strong picture. Fortunately, our research team has an intense knowledge of this market, and we found it simple enough to gather the necessary information. Utilizing local news media, customer reviews and gambling company’s press releases also proved to be an efficient mechanism in our ranking.

How to Open an Account at German Betting Site

In order to start betting at an online betting site in Germany you’ll need to open an account and confirm your details. To help you through this process we’ve created the three-step process for creating your account. The first step is broadly covered across this page and is the entire purpose of the guide. The next two steps we will explain in more detail down below.

1
Choose a Betting Site

Select the betting site that is best suited to your needs as a player by scrolling up and down through the course of this review.

2
Register an Account

If you’re happy with the selections available register your interest with platform by filling out the necessary forms on sign up.

3
Confirm Your Details

Confirm your details with the sportsbook, this will require proof, and then you can begin processing withdrawals to your bank account.

You’ll need a few pieces of personal information to open an account with a betting site. Firstly is your personal details, name and date of birth. The second piece is your address. Both components will need to be provable with the operator if they request, this can be done by sending a photocopy of your id card and a utilities bill with your address on. Completion of the final steps will enable you to process withdrawals unimpeded.

eSports: CS:GO Betting Sites & More

Looking ahead to the future of the industry and its clear that eSports betting sites will be at the forefront of this. Gamers, streamers and bettors can all enjoy the qualities of this innovative new gambling market. Traditional sports are slowly losing ground to their virtual equivalents, and this area of the industry is without-doubt the most exciting and rapidly growing spaces we’ve seen.

The table below is a representative sample of some of the best eSports gambling providers in Germany. It consists of CS:GO betting sites, platforms for Warzone and FIFA wagering, and a multitude of other exciting titles being played at the elite end of the spectrum.

eSports Betting Site Welcome Bonus Highlights Rating Secure Link T&C’s
Up to €100 Welcome Bonus 2+ 93.92% 5/5.0 Visit Site! Full T&Cs Apply! New customer offer. Please gamble responsibly. 18+
Up to €150 Deposit Bonus 6+ 91.53% 5.0/5 Visit Site! Full T&Cs Apply! New customer offer. Please gamble responsibly. 18+
Up to €100 Deposit Bonus 4+ 91.88% 4.9/5 Visit Site! Full T&Cs Apply! New customer offer. Please gamble responsibly. 18+
100% Up to €100 Bet Credits 2+ 93.68% 4.8/5 Visit Site! Full T&Cs Apply! New customer offer. Please gamble responsibly. 18+

If you’re still not sure over where to place your wagers when undertaking eSports betting functions then you should certainly consult the table above. There will be ample opportunity to try out a diverse range of betting types, games and bonuses. So, shop around and see what this exciting sub-type of gambling has to offer.

Regulatory Environment Affecting the Best Sports Betting in Germany

The German government have adopted a progressive and commercialized stance towards the gambling industry. The best sports betting sites in Germany are all fully regulated and licensed under the federal framework. Make sure that you’re taking advantage of all this forward-thinking betting industry has to offer. Keep scrolling to learn more about the legality and history of betting in Germany.

In the following paragraphs we will describe all the important factors that determine the gambling laws in Germany. Casinos and land-based operators are able to provide gaming products that are explicitly noted on their license. Sports betting is legal in Germany, the country has a vast range of legal betting platforms that are capable of maintaining the country’s domestic demand for licensed services.

Gambling Laws & Licensing Process

Legal Sports Betting & Gambling in Germany
🎰 Fixed Odds Betting Terminals 2,370
πŸ“‘ Betting Shops 395
πŸ›οΈ Land-Based Casinos 28
πŸ’» All Licensed Sportsbooks 24
πŸ† Best-Rated Safe Betting Sites Our Picks

Current German laws are set to expire at the end of 2021 – and similar to the United States, Germany does not have a national regulation of its gambling industry. The individual states are able to manage the online betting sites legal regulation of all forms of gambling from lotteries to sports betting, the federal government has removed itself as an authority on the issue.

In Germany the interstate treaties are handled in a very unique way, what usually happens is one of the 16 member states will take leadership on a specific treaty. For example, Lower Saxony is the leader on national lottery matters, so a new lottery operator will have to work with Lower Saxony officials to implement their products on the national market.

The Interstate Gambling Treaty passed in 2012 and paved the way for over 20 bookmakers to operate freely around Europe. The state of Schleswig-Holstein has taken the lead on online gambling licenses, first abstaining from the national treaty, and later rejoining again, but granting its own operating licenses in the process. There are also many sports betting site in Germany with licenses held from other states. As you can see the regulatory environment is very fragmented, almost a complete opposite of the United Kingdom, which is all organize under a central authority.

With casinos and a prospering gambling industry in 14 out of 16 Germany states, and legal sports betting sites of the highest-quality, this country is certainly one of the most favored by European gamblers. In the table below we have offered a brief list of the most well-established and generally considered to be the safest bookmakers in the region.

The Safest Online Betting Sites with a Valid Germany License

Gambling in Germany is legally stable and there is no need to circumvent the domestic laws to access safe betting sites in this country. Taxes on winnings is a concept Germany handles differently to the rest of the world though, instead of integrating the expense into their odds, the customer will have taxes deducted directly from their winnings after the payout.

Avoid These Websites

As with any country operating in the online betting site industry, there are rogue operators to be aware of. Although Germany enforces a high-standard on companies based within their territories, there is a presence of companies located in other jurisdictions that market themselves across Europe and accept European players. Some of these operators do not deliver to a set of regulatory standards, and can be incredibly risky platforms to trust with your bets.

Whilst the number of bad bookmakers around the world is vast, we have identified nine that are particularly troublesome. For your own benefit and the safety of the gaming experience you want to receive, the following websites are best off being totally avoided.

The above operators have all let themselves slip to a standard that can only be considered sub-par for this market. Our review team works hard to ensure that only trusted betting sites make it into our ranking tables – only considering brands that have a good reputation, solid platform performance across the board and hold a legitimate operating license from a German licensing authority.

History and Future of German Gambling

Similar to all of its core infrastructure, gambling culture in Germany was wiped out following to destruction of the nation after World War II. Following the war the country was split into two countries, East and West. After decades of Cold War destruction being a permanent and imminent existential threat the country reunified in 1989 forming a new constitution. In this, new rules on gambling were drawn up and the individual states given license to choose their own path.

Borrowing elements from the legal frameworks adopted by other countries, the German government developed laws to control casino, sports betting, horse racing and lotteries. Casino laws were the least restrictive of the bunch, but have recently been relaxed to bring them into line. Look below at the main timeline of event in Germany’s gambling history.

History of German Sports Betting Laws & Acts
  • Nazis Remove Ban on Gambling Gambling venues in Germany remained closed after WW1 until 1933. As the Nazis took control of the country they lifted the ban and allowed for a multitude of casinos to open across the controlled territories.
  • Gambling Banned Once Again Following Germany’s defeat in WW2 the new leadership of the country banned gambling from an official standpoint. Despite this, many Germans continued to play card games and gamble on other games of chance in an unofficial capacity.
  • German Reunification In 1989 Germany re-unified following decades of being split apart. They decided to reinstate gambling as a factor of the legal framework, offering casinos, lotteries, sports betting and horse racing both land-based and online.
  • Interstate Gambling Treaty In 2008 Germany attempted to introduce an Interstate Gambling Treaty which forbade many different types of gambling, particularly targeting online providers.
  • Schleswig Holstein Abstains from the Treaty The German state of Schleswig Holstein refuses to accept the terms of the national treaty and begins issuing gambling operator licenses of its own. Many bookmakers take advantage of this legal loophole as an opportunity to enter the German market.
  • Over 50 Casinos Operating Due to the Schleswig Holstein loophole in the German legal code over 50 online gambling operators are now active in the German gambling market.
  • Fragmented Legal Situation The future situation of gambling in Germany is very unclear, from one side there are laws against hosting online gambling sites but a German is not prohibited from using online gambling sites. The current scenario is mostly served by foreign operators and will continue to do so until better clarity is achieved.

The German gambling system exists in a state of legal limbo. Without a clearly defined set of rules that all states can agree on, they have developed an ad-hoc approach to approving various corporate gambling companies. For now because of strict laws on hosting gambling sites in Germany, and no explicit laws prohibiting Germans from accessing online gambling services, foreign providers are meeting the demand of the market.

In the future the government may attempt to use a more structured approach to regulate its gambling industry. The model adopted in the United Kingdom is criticized as being too libertarian in its nature, and yet the benefits for platform safety, responsible gambling and quality of product are clear to see when a centralized regulator is given authority over the national gambling market.

Betting in Germany: Fragmented But Stable Market

Germany is home to some of the world’s most progressive gambling laws, despite its confusing state-by-state fragmentation, Germans still are privileged with one of the best sportsbook ecosystems in the world. There are many betting site in Germany we think offer a premium experience, and we fully endorse every operator cited on the various tables of this page.

If you want to revisit any of the sections we’ve covered in our rankings of all German sportsbooks have a look below. This final ranking matrix will guide you to the best operator for each of the categories that are intrinsically crucial to a good top sports betting sites in Germany experience.

Overview of the Best German Online Sportsbooks 2024:

As we mentioned across this page, we’re regularly updating the content of this page to bring you the very latest information. As we have our eye always on the global betting market you can rest assured our sports betting sites reviews account for all the latest developments across the industry.

Frequently Asked Questions

We have covered a wide-range of topics throughout this review of German betting sites. If you’re still unsure on some of the topics, or remain confused about any of the concepts discussed, check out our FAQ section below. Each question has been answered by our team of experts.

πŸ₯‡ What are the best betting sites in Germany?

If you’re looking for the top betting sites available in Germany, head up to the top of this page or scroll to the bottom to view them. These are the bookmakers displaying the strongest broad set of qualities for gambling.

πŸ† What betting offers can I find at German sportsbooks?

There are many betting offers in Germany for new and existing customers. If you’re looking for deposit match offers, free bets, bonuses and enhanced odds – check out the table of the very best.

βš–οΈ Is betting legal in Germany?

Gambling is legal in Germany, and the regulated sports betting sites are awarded their license by individual states for access to the local markets.

πŸ’³ Is PayPal betting possible in Germany?

PayPal is a widely endorsed eWallet in over 200 countries across the world. The legal situation on this payment option in Germany is sketchy and we advise not to use it. There are plenty of other payment methods available.

πŸ” Are there any new betting sites you can recommend?

We are always on the hunt for new betting sites, check back in the future to see the newest and most exciting platforms in the German market.

😎 Is live betting possible in Germany?

Numerous in-play betting platforms exist throughout Germany, there is a lot of overlap between our general top bookmakers and those considered to offer the best in-play arenas.

πŸ‘Œ What is the best sport betting app I can download in Germany?

You can easily access many top sports betting apps in Germany, in our ranking of the best we selected for a similar range of variables as the general top sportsbooks, so scroll up to check them out.

🏀 Is it possible to bet on elections?

In Germany you’ll have quick access to a wide and varied range of betting markets - this includes traditional sports, virtual sports, novelty markets such as TV shows, and political elections.