Germany reformed its gambling laws with the Interstate Treaty on Gambling (Glücksspielstaatsvertrag) that took effect in July 2021. Under this framework, online casino gambling is legal but heavily regulated through the Gemeinsame Glücksspielbehörde der Länder (GGL) — the joint gambling authority.
Licensed operators in Germany face significant restrictions: a €1,000 monthly deposit limit, mandatory 5-second pause between slot spins, no table games or live casino (these were initially banned but some are now being considered), and a €1 maximum stake per spin on slots.
These strict regulations have driven many German players to offshore crypto casinos, which offer higher limits, faster gameplay, and a wider game selection. Curacao-licensed casinos are popular among German crypto gamblers.
Cryptocurrency is not specifically addressed in the German gambling treaty. While the GGL regulates licensed operators, enforcement against individual players using offshore crypto casinos has been minimal. Germany does not tax gambling winnings for recreational players.
