Country guide

Betting sites in Germany for 2026

Online sports betting is legal in Germany when offered by a Gemeinsame Glücksspielbehörde der Länder (GGL) licence holder. Independent scoring, sources cited, prices from live feeds when available. This page is informational and does not list a scored operator roster for Germany.

Legal status

Sports betting law in Germany

Online sports betting is legal in Germany when offered by a Gemeinsame Glücksspielbehörde der Länder (GGL) licence holder.

Regulator	Gemeinsame Glücksspielbehörde der Länder (GGL)
Statutory age	18+
Currency	EUR (€)
Tax on winnings	Recreational gambling winnings are not treated as taxable income for private players in Germany.

The Interstate Treaty on Gambling 2021 (Glücksspielstaatsvertrag 2021) came into force on 1 July 2021 and opened a nationwide online gambling regime.
The Gemeinsame Glücksspielbehörde der Länder (GGL), seated in Halle (Saale), has been the federal regulator since 1 January 2023.
Licensed operators must connect to central player-protection systems including OASIS and the central limit file.

Sites

Sports betting sites for Germany

We publish a scored review only for operators whose current local licence we have verified against the regulator, or whose own terms do not restrict Germany readers. That check has not cleared for Germany yet, so no ranked roster is listed on this page. Read the methodology for how we score, or open the reviews index for markets where the check has cleared.

Methodology

How we rank sites for Germany

Every scored review on the site follows the same eight-check rubric. Nothing on this page is a paid placement.

Licensing and safety. We verify the operator is currently licensed by the local regulator, and we cite the regulator record.
Mobile experience. We test the mobile site or app for load speed, sign-up flow, deposit flow and place-a-bet flow before we score it.
Offers and terms. We read the full terms behind any welcome offer or free bet, and we score it against the visible headline.
Reputation and complaints. We read the operator record with the regulator and check independent complaints trackers for unresolved issues.
Price competitiveness. We compare the operator’s current prices on a fixed basket of markets against the market median and against the sharpest published book.
Market coverage. We list the sports, competitions and market types the operator offers and flag notable gaps.
Payments and speed. We test deposits and withdrawals on the payment methods that most readers in the market use.
Customer support. We test live chat and email response and check the operator publishes a UK-style dispute route or its local equivalent.

Sports

Popular sports for betting in Germany

Ordered by domestic attention, based on published participation and viewership data. Full sources are cited at the foot of this page.

Bundesliga football
UEFA Champions League
Handball-Bundesliga
Basketball Bundesliga (BBL)
DEL ice hockey
Tennis (ATP and WTA)
Formula 1
Ski jumping and biathlon

Major events readers follow

FIFA World Cup (Every four years)
UEFA European Championship (Every four years)
IHF World Handball Championship (Every two years)

Offers

Bonuses and promotions in Germany

Bonuses are permitted but advertising must not target minors, mislead consumers, or obscure conditions; central player-protection limits apply. Licensed sites must integrate with the central deposit-limit and self-exclusion systems, so any offer must not induce play that breaches those limits. Read the full terms before you claim any offer.

Payments

Payment methods used for online betting in Germany

Availability and speeds are typical for the market and vary by operator.

Method	Type	Speed	Note
PayPal	e-wallet	Instant	Widely used at licensed German sites.
Trustly (formerly Sofort)	instant bank transfer	Instant	Push payment from a German bank account.
Giropay	instant bank transfer	Instant	German bank-operated real-time payment.
Klarna	e-wallet	Instant	Widely used at retail; availability at gambling operators varies.
Paysafecard	prepaid voucher	Instant	Prepaid voucher accepted subject to KYC identification thresholds.
SEPA bank transfer	bank transfer	Varies by bank	Traditional bank transfer for deposits and withdrawals.
Debit card	card	Varies by provider	Availability of credit cards is limited under the current framework.

Identity checks

KYC and identity verification

Licensed operators must verify a new account before it can deposit or withdraw, and must run anti-money-laundering checks throughout the account life. Expect to submit a government photo ID, a proof of address dated within the last three months, and a proof of the payment method you plan to use. Underage accounts must be identified and closed. Winnings from an unverified account cannot be paid out.

Safer gambling

Safer gambling in Germany

18+. Suchtgefahr. Hilfe unter 0800 137 27 00 (BZgA).

Helpline: BZgA Federal Centre for Health Education gambling helpline, 0800 137 27 00, Mon-Thu 10:00-22:00, Fri-Sun 10:00-18:00 CET. Website

Self-exclusion: OASIS. All licensed online and land-based operators must query OASIS before allowing play; self-block (Selbstsperre) and third-party block (Fremdsperre) both supported. Learn how it works

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FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Online sports betting is legal in Germany when offered by a Gemeinsame Glücksspielbehörde der Länder (GGL) licence holder.

The statutory minimum age for online sports betting in Germany is 18.

Recreational gambling winnings are not treated as taxable income for private players in Germany.

Every licensed operator holds a record on the Gemeinsame Glücksspielbehörde der Länder register at https://www.gluecksspiel-behoerde.de/. Check the operator name against that record before you register.

Yes. Licensed operators must verify a new account before it can deposit or withdraw, and must re-verify if the account changes materially.

Sources