EU-Regulated National
Germany licence.
GGL
Product-specific German entry, real OASIS/LUGAS compliance capability, local permission and independently tested economics under ordinary player limits.
This framework is materially unsettled right now. Read the honest read below before committing a timeline to it.
What the regulator asks for
Year one cost
Product-dependent, quote required
Do not treat a single all-in first-year estimate as a statutory fee. Application charges, technical approvals, responsible-gambling integrations, legal counsel, staffing and any state-specific table-games licence depend on the product and authorising authority.
Timeline
Authority and application dependent
The GGL publishes product-specific licensing requirements. No universal six-month guarantee applies, and federal-state authorisations for online-casino table games follow the relevant state regime.
Gaming tax
Virtual slots: 5.3% of statutory taxable base under §38 RennwLottG (defined in §37). Online poker and sports betting also have separate statutory 5.3% tax bases; not a flat 5.3% tax on GGR.
Marketing climate
Under §5 GlüStV 2021, 06:00-21:00 internet and broadcast advertising restrictions apply to virtual slots, online poker and online-casino games; sports betting has separate live-sports broadcast restrictions. No targeting minors or vulnerable players.
The market
Germany operates product-specific gambling authorisation under GlüStV 2021. The GGL licenses nationwide virtual slots, online poker and sports betting, but §22c online-casino table games are authorised by competent German states. The ordinary limit is €1 per virtual-slot spin, with tightly safeguarded higher stakes up to €3 or €5 where permitted under the 2026 GGL decision framework. The ordinary cross-operator deposit limit is €1,000 per month; defined exceptions require approved financial-capacity and player-safety checks. See the GGL FAQ updated 28 July 2026.
How the application runs
Identify the permitted product and competent authority first. GGL for virtual slots, online poker and sports betting within its jurisdiction; relevant state authority for online-casino table games. Verify the current operator, websites, game categories and territories against the GGL whitelist (updated 2 October 2026).
Ongoing compliance
OASIS national exclusion and LUGAS cross-operator deposit/activity controls are central safeguards. Operators seeking higher stake/deposit limits need separate permissions, player-risk monitoring and evidence; the limit exceptions are not general entitlements.
What you can and cannot say
The GGL advertising FAQ specifies 06:00-21:00 internet and broadcast time restrictions for virtual slots, online poker and online-casino games, separate sports-betting broadcast limits, and tighter protection of minors and vulnerable players.
The honest read
What it means for your plan
German entry feasibility depends on the authorised products, protection controls, tax base and player-acquisition restrictions. The old blanket "no live casino" and "hard €1 stake" statements are incomplete, and neither unlicensed offshore supply nor future liberalisation is a compliant entry plan.
How to open an online casino here
The step by step for Germany: entity, application, key function holders, documents, systems, and the audit before go live.
Read the Germany guideCompare
Compared with
For operators planning next steps
From a licence comparison to an operator launch plan
Fees and requirements alone do not establish eligibility or readiness. Confirm current regulatory conditions with the authority and then plan product, payments and implementation.
Get 3 actions
Weighing up Germany?
One sentence is enough. I read these myself and reply with three actions you can take.