Despite frequent changes in legislation, and somewhat unclear laws, sports betting sites in Germany are one of the most favorite activities for German players. According to statistics, it is thought that around 12 million Germans have placed online bets at least once in their life. This number keeps growing, as the local government has for years allowed foreign betting companies to apply for a license, which gives them permission to operate in Germany. Despite the fact that the conditions are relatively strict, since 1, the number of sports betting companies in Germany has been increasing. This translates into more options and entertainment options for players.
Another positive news for all fans of sports betting is the fact that players are not taxed on their winnings. This applies to both gambling and casino games. However, the situation is different for companies that provide these services. Entities must pay a tax on profit from sports betting at the rate of 19%, while in parallel they must pay a tax at the rate of 5% for the development of the activity.
Among the platforms that operate licensed in Germany we can mention:
Licensed in Germany
- Bet365 Sportsbook ( Bet 365 Alternative Link )
- Betway Sportsbook
- MansionBet Sports
- Betsson Sportsbook
- Nordic Bet Sportsbook
Offshore licensed
In terms of the most popular sports and sports competitions, football is definitely at the top of the list, as the German football championship, Bundesliga, is among the most popular in Europe and beyond. Bayern Munich is the most popular club, while the German national football team also attracts a lot of attention during world competitions. Other popular sports are basketball, ice hockey, boxing, MMA, as well as Formula 1, due to the elite German drivers who are part of the competition.
E-sports are also gaining more and more popularity and most licensed platforms in Germany allow players to try their luck in this category as well.
But what is the minimum age to place a sports bet in Germany?
Since all German states have unified their laws on sports betting and gambling, the same has happened with the minimum age, which is 18 years old for all these activities throughout Germany. This applies to both online and classic bookmaker bets.
Unlike other European countries, an important difference in German legislation on sports betting is the fact that players can deposit up to €1000 per month in their accounts on licensed platforms. If players want to deposit more, the only way is to choose other alternatives, which are not necessarily risky, but do not possess a license from the GGL (German Authority responsible for gambling and sports betting).
Restrictions also exist on real-time games and betting, while on popular slot games, players can only spend €1 per spin at licensed companies.
In terms of payment methods, German players prefer online wallets, with PayPal being one of the most used methods for sports betting. Visa, Mastercard, Neteller, Skrill, Entropay and Bank Transfer are also other options that are available on most sports platforms. Important to mention is the fact that many of these companies also offer their mobile applications for iOS and Android, thus offering players an even more beautiful experience.
What are the main advantages that each licensed platform offers to German players?
- Bet 365 – Simple and intuitive interface, focused on football events and perfect for German players.
- Betway – Great variety of popular sports events among German players, welcome offer in the form of "cashback", competitive odds and ongoing weekly offers, free bets.
- 22 Bet – Various weekly bonuses and offers, high number of sports and sports championships, fast customer support.
- 20bet – Very competitive welcome offer, intuitive and easy-to-use interface, popular among German players, large number of real-time events.
- Neo Bet – Well-known and quite prestigious company in the market, high number of events, mobile application for sports betting as well as for casino games.
