German gambling regulation divides responsibilities between the joint authority of the federal states and individual state authorities. Understanding that division matters: the everyday phrase “online casino” is broader than its specific meaning in German gambling law.
Reviewed: 23 October 2026. This is a consumer reference about permissions, protection and complaints. It does not assess individual operators or recommend gambling.
Permission is specific to the activity and territory
The Joint Gambling Authority of the Länder, usually abbreviated to GGL, explains that public gambling in Germany requires permission from the competent German authority. Its guidance on permitted gambling describes the position under the Interstate Treaty on Gambling 2021, known as GlüStV 2021.
A foreign gambling licence does not by itself replace the required German permission. The location of a company, the language of a website and the existence of a foreign regulatory logo do not answer whether the relevant activity is authorised for the German market.
Authorisation also needs to be read by product. A permission for one form of gambling is not general approval of every service offered under the same brand. Nor is a licence evidence that every individual transaction or contractual term is beyond dispute.
GGL permissions and state-level casino games
The GGL’s cross-state responsibilities include online poker, virtual slot games and internet sports betting. Online casino table games sit within a different legal category. The GGL’s casino games FAQ explains the distinction.
In the treaty’s terminology, online casino games include virtual versions and live internet transmissions of bank-holder table games, such as roulette, blackjack and baccarat. The individual Länder determine the arrangements for these games within their territory, subject to the treaty. They are not covered by a single nationwide GGL casino-table-game licence.
This explains why a statement that a website is “licensed in Germany” can be incomplete. The permission needs to match the product, the authorising body and any territorial limits. Marketing terminology should not be substituted for those details.
What the official whitelist establishes
The GGL publishes an official whitelist of authorised gambling organisers and intermediaries. It includes permissions supervised by the GGL and by other German gambling authorities. Its filters distinguish gambling categories and the responsible authority.
For a documented check, compare the exact website and legal entity, the activity and the territorial scope. Keep the date of the check. A similar brand name or an old licence screenshot is not a reliable substitute for a current official entry. An unresolved mismatch is a reason to seek clarification from the authority.
OASIS and exclusion safeguards
OASIS is the nationwide, cross-form player exclusion system administered by Regierungspräsidium Darmstadt. The authority describes it as a player protection measure intended to counter gambling addiction.
Exclusion safeguards restrict gambling participation. They should not be framed as an inconvenience to get around. A failure to enforce an exclusion is a protection concern that should be documented and reported through the appropriate official route.
The distinction between an operator’s account controls and a statutory exclusion system is important. Closing one account does not explain the full coverage of a nationwide system. For questions about OASIS coverage or an existing record, use the administering authority’s information rather than a commercial website’s assurances.
Preserve correspondence, account records, dates, the exact domain and the terms relevant to a complaint. State the disputed conduct and the remedy requested in writing. If the issue concerns a possible regulatory breach, identify the authority responsible for that gambling category.
The GGL’s breach-reporting guidance explicitly says it does not handle complaints about transactions with an operator or enforce civil claims such as repayment of balances or losses. State-level regulatory matters may need the relevant Land authority. Regulatory reporting and a private claim for money are different processes.
Where the dispute concerns jurisdiction, a substantial financial claim or court proceedings, obtain qualified advice on the particular facts. This guide does not determine a reader’s legal rights or predict the result of a case.