What kinds of sports bets are available at legal German bookmakers?
In the lead-up to the highly anticipated 2024 European Football Championship, sports betting enthusiasts in Germany can now place bets on the upcoming games with German-licensed betting providers. This change comes as a result of the recent implementation of unified gambling regulations under the German State Treaty on Gambling, effective as of July 1, 2021.
The Gemeinsame Glücksspielbehörde der Länder (GGL), the national regulator responsible for issuing licenses and overseeing compliance for online sports betting in Germany, is the authority behind these new regulations. The regulatory framework is primarily set by the GlüStV 2021, which legalized online sports betting and established a national licensing regime.
Players in Germany can rest assured that their betting activities are protected, as all bookmakers with a German license are connected to the OASIS self-exclusion register, allowing problematic bettors to be excluded from the gambling offer. Moreover, a maximum deposit limit of €1,000 per month has been set to promote responsible gambling.
While the range of legal betting options in Germany is more limited compared to players in the UK, who can place bets on a wide variety of sports, horse and greyhound racing, politics, Oscars, social events, entertainment, e-sports, and virtual sports, among others, the focus is on providing a safe and secure betting environment. Certain football betting markets have been removed from the offerings of bookmakers with a German license, and cryptocurrencies are not available as payment methods for deposits and withdrawals at gambling providers with a German license.
The GGL conducts ongoing monitoring of websites and initiates prohibition proceedings against illegal operators. In 2024, it reviewed over 1,700 sites and launched 231 prohibition proceedings, with hundreds of illegal sites either blocked or inaccessible. The Digital Services Act (DSA) is increasingly used to block access to illegal gambling sites within Germany.
Recent calls for reform seek to strengthen the powers of the GGL, including broader site-blocking capabilities and the removal of outdated liability clauses. Proposed changes aim to further align German regulations with the EU’s Digital Services Act, replacing the national Telemedia Act.
Those who wish to place sports bets on the 2024 European Championship in Germany and benefit from high player protection should opt for a betting provider with a German license. Long-term bets on the overall tournament winner are available for those placing sports bets in Germany. The effectiveness of the GlüStV 2021 is under regular review, with a full evaluation due by the end of 2026, but reforms and adjustments are being discussed ahead of schedule.
In summary, licensed online sports betting providers in Germany must comply with strict advertising rules, ongoing monitoring, and evolving enforcement measures designed to combat illegal gambling and protect consumers. The focus is on providing a safe and secure betting environment for all players, making it an attractive option for those looking to place bets on the upcoming 2024 European Football Championship.
- Sports-betting enthusiasts in Germany can now place bets on various sports like football, basketball, tennis, golf, and racing (horse-racing, racing) for the 2024 European Football Championship, as German-licensed betting providers have made it possible.
- The GGL, the national regulator for online sports betting in Germany, has established a national licensing regime and set a maximum deposit limit of €1,000 per month to promote responsible gambling.
- Although the range of legal betting options in Germany is more limited compared to the UK, German regulations provide a safe and secure betting environment, excluding certain football betting markets and cryptocurrencies as payment methods.
- The German regulations, overseen by the GGL, maintain strict advertising rules, ongoing monitoring, and evolving enforcement measures to combat illegal gambling and protect consumers, making it an attractive option for those looking to place bets on the 2024 European Football Championship.
