If you wonder whether online betting is legal in Germany, you’ve come to the right place. The German government has approved offshore betting sites that offer sports betting and casino games. These licences are valid until 31 December 2022. However, if you’re looking to gamble on horse races, you should note that in many German states, online gambling is still illegal.
Offshore betting sites are legal in Germany
If you live in Germany, you can play on offshore betting sites as long as you have a valid betting license. Online betting sites in Germany can accept various payment methods, including bank card payments. Many of these websites also use encryption to protect your bank card information. Usually, these sites also have customer support to answer your questions.
The ISTG only prohibits gambling operations within the country, so offshore betting sites can offer sports betting to German residents. Because offshore sportsbooks operate within the European Union, German players are not at risk of being prosecuted for betting at a foreign site.
Offshore sports betting licences are valid until 31 December 2022
If you have a sports betting license from the Regional Council of Darmstadt, Germany, it is good news – your licence is valid until 31 December 2022. However, you will need a new one after that date. The new GluStV rules make sports betting online more inclusive and permit bettors to bet on single events or a combination of events.
Offshore casino licences are valid until 31 December 2022
The new regulations are designed to eliminate the black market in offshore gambling. Existing operators must comply with the new requirements as if they were already in place. The regulations will come into effect in October 2020. However, it is not until this date that operators must apply for new licenses.
Several EU member states grant offshore gambling licences. Malta and the UK have both issued offshore gaming licences for online casinos. These licenses are valid until 31 December 2022. However, the new regulations will significantly change the regulations to protect consumers and promote responsible gaming. These changes include the elimination of in-event betting and the limitation of live bets.
Offshore poker licences are valid until 31 December 2022
Online poker is already regulated in Germany. In Saxony-Anhalt, the regulator is responsible for licensing online poker. But that will change as of 31 December 2022, when the Joint Gambling Authority takes over the licensing process. Poker is still legal in state-owned casinos, but it is not explicitly mentioned in the law. It can operate online when an operator can present a suitable gaming concept.
The latest development in legal online poker is the expansion of traffic sharing. While there were once several countries that shared a single pool of traffic, the US is the only country without access to this shared pool. Although New Jersey, Nevada, Delaware, and Michigan have signed traffic-sharing compacts, implementing this concept may take several months.
Offshore sports betting advertising is restricted during sporting events
Offshore sports betting advertising during sporting events is illegal. This practice violates federal and state laws and exploits consumers by misrepresenting them and luring them to their illegal websites. Consumers often discover their mistakes only after it is too late. Moreover, they have no recourse should they experience any complaints or problems with their transactions. Consequently, it is essential to work with all stakeholders in the sports betting ecosystem to prevent this from happening.
Even if sports betting advertising is prohibited, this marketing doesn’t always happen. It’s a grey area, and sometimes, it’s challenging to determine what constitutes “reasonable” advertising. Some guidelines are more straightforward than others, but there are also exceptions. One example is a recent case involving Penn National Gaming’s Barstool Sports, which removed a social media post that contained a photo-shopped child.
