| Updated: September 26, 2025Germany boasts the largest economy in Europe and, in 2021, was ranked the 20th-richest country in the world. Germans are renowned for their passion for football, and statistics show that most sports bets placed by locals are on this sport. Other sports are also popular in Germany, including ice hockey, boxing, and motorsports. The country’s gambling industry is flourishing, and the numbers prove it: in 2019, 35% of the population participated in some form of gambling at least once.
Although Germany is a developed country with well-defined laws, gambling still evokes mixed feelings among legislators. Further complicating the legal status of gambling is that Germany has 16 federal states, each permitted to regulate or prohibit gambling and sports betting within its borders.
Best Sports Betting Sites in Germany
Since July 2021, foreign operators have been able to apply for German licenses and legally offer their services in the country. The gambling regulator responsible for issuing licenses to eligible operators is die Glücksspielbehörde (GGL). As of this writing, more than 30 operators hold a local license to operate in Germany.
Best Sports Betting Bonuses in Germany
An essential component contributing to an online sportsbook’s success is the bonuses it provides. Unfortunately, Germany is among the countries that have imposed restrictions on the sports betting bonuses available to punters. Licensed operators may offer bonuses of up to €100 per year.
Moreover, operators can no longer extend bonuses to inactive sports fans. German punters should remember that every sports betting bonus is subject to terms and conditions that differ from one betting site to another.
Match Deposit Bonus Free Bets Acca Insurance Odds BoostMatch Deposit Bonus
Most licensed sportsbooks that welcome German punters offer match deposit bonuses to new registrants. To claim such a bonus, bettors must make a qualifying deposit. One of the most common welcome offers for German sports fans is a 100% match deposit bonus of up to €100.
Punters must wager the bonus funds (and in some cases the deposit) a specified number of times to meet the playthrough requirement. Another important condition is the odds restriction, which prevents bettors from using bonus money on heavy favorites.
Free Bets
Free bets are another promotion available to German punters. This offer allows bettors to wager on a sporting event without any financial risk. If the bet wins, they retain the profits, but the free bet stake itself cannot be withdrawn. If the wager loses, you do not forfeit any of your own money.
Some online sportsbooks catering to German sports fans also provide risk-free bets. Unlike free bets, risk-free bets require punters to place a real-money wager. If the bet settles as a loss, the sportsbook will refund the stake, usually in site credits.
Acca Insurance
Acca insurance is a popular bonus found at many German-friendly sportsbooks. As you may know, accumulator bets combine multiple selections into a single wager, and all selections must win for the bet to succeed. Many punters choose accumulator bets to boost the odds and maximize their potential winnings, but if just one selection loses, the entire wager fails.
To mitigate this risk, many bookmakers offer Acca insurance. If your accumulator loses by a single selection, the bookmaker refunds your stake as a free bet. Accumulator bets usually need to include a minimum number of selections (commonly four or more) to qualify, and each sportsbook sets its own minimum odds requirements for the promotion.
Odds Boost
Online sportsbooks targeting the German market frequently provide boosted odds on selected markets. By intentionally enhancing these odds, bookmakers allow punters to secure a larger potential payout for the same level of risk.
Betting Regulation in Germany
For years, the legality of gambling and betting in Germany was the subject of heated debate. Although the situation has long been complicated, the iGaming market has continued to flourish. The fact that all 16 federal states can enact their own gambling and betting laws further complicates the legal landscape of Germany’s gambling sector.
Initially, the states strongly opposed the idea of legalizing casino gambling. German lawmakers introduced the Interstate Gambling Treaty, which banned all forms of online gambling except sports betting and horse racing. However, only state-owned entities were allowed to accept bets on sports and horse racing. In other words, the country established a monopoly on online sports betting. The Interstate Gambling Treaty was ratified by all 16 states and entered into force on January 1, 2008.
Germany is a member of the European Union, which does not tolerate gambling monopolies within its member states. In 2010, the European Court of Justice ruled that Germany was operating an unlawful monopoly on sports betting.
Changes to the Interstate Treaty Important Sports Betting RestrictionsChanges to the Interstate Treaty
Changes to the Treaty were introduced in December 2011, allowing foreign operators to apply for German licenses and offer their services on German soil. Under the new provisions, a maximum of 20 foreign bookmakers could receive licenses. The amended Interstate Treaty was signed by all states except Schleswig-Holstein and entered into force on July 1, 2012.
Schleswig-Holstein, meanwhile, passed the so-called Gambling Act in September 2014, under which an unlimited number of licenses could be issued to foreign casino operators and bookmakers. The state granted 23 online casino licenses and 25 sports betting licenses. In 2012, however, after a new state government was elected, Schleswig-Holstein signed the Treaty. Operators that had already obtained licenses were allowed to continue offering their services until their permissions expired, and their licenses were later extended until June 2021.
Further amendments to the Treaty were adopted in 2015. In January 2020, some provisions of the updated Treaty took effect. The cap on the number of licenses was removed, and the Regional Council in Darmstadt was assigned the task of issuing licenses to foreign bookmakers.
In July 2021, the new Interstate Treaty came into force, legalizing online gambling in Germany and imposing strict measures to curb problem gambling. Under the new Treaty, a regulatory body called the Gemeinsamen Glücksspielbehörde der Länder (GGL) was established to oversee the industry and award licenses to operators.
Important Sports Betting Restrictions
However, the new regulations place licensed operators at a disadvantage compared with offshore competitors because of the numerous restrictions. To obtain a license, operators must maintain a registered office within the EU or EEA, and they must provide a German-language version of their websites. One of the most criticized rules is the monthly deposit limit of €1,000 per player across all operators.
In addition, bookies may offer live betting only on match-winner markets and total goals scored. Bets on the irregular behavior of an athlete are prohibited. The Interstate Treaty also caps bonus funds at €100 per punter per year. German bettors may not hold multiple accounts. Many industry experts believe these restrictions will push sports fans toward offshore sportsbooks.
The minimum legal age for gambling and sports betting in Germany is 18. Licensed operators must carry out KYC procedures to verify that their customers meet the legal age requirement. German punters are also required to pay a 5% tax on every stake placed.