Historical Background
Online gambling has a long history, dating back to the late 1990s when internet access became widespread. Initially, online casinos were primarily based outside of Europe and targeted international customers. As internet penetration continued to grow within European countries, governments began taking notice of their citizens’ involvement in offshore online gaming activities.
Germany, being one of the largest economies in Europe, was no winz exception. The German government has been actively debating regulations for online gambling since 2006 when they issued a federal law that prohibited operators from offering games of chance to Germans without proper licenses and permits. This marked a turning point in Germany’s stance on regulating its citizens’ access to online casinos.
Regulation Landscape
In the following years, individual German states have adopted different regulatory approaches towards online casino offerings. As of 2023, there are two main types of licensed providers operating within Germany:
- Land-based operators with an online license : Established brick-and-mortar gambling establishments in Germany can expand their businesses to offer online gaming options.
- Online-only operators licensed by individual states : Some German states have established special regulatory bodies that issue licenses for companies offering only online casino games.