Germany’s gambling authority has acted on industry requests to lift the €1 staking limit for online slot games. Starting this July, licensed operators will be allowed to increase their stakes beyond this long-standing cap. Although the €1 limit remains the legal default, operators approved by the Joint Gambling Authority of the Federal States (GGL) can now set stakes at €3 or €5 per spin.
However, not all players will qualify for these higher limits. To stake up to €3, players must be at least 21 years old, while the €5 limit is reserved for players who have not exhibited signs of problematic gambling in the previous 90 days.
To ensure player safety, operators must conduct monitoring to track behavior both before and after increasing limits. If signs of harmful gambling are detected, they are obligated to intervene, which could involve contacting the player, restricting their gambling activities, or even suspending their accounts.
The changes aim to adapt to evolving market conditions while aligning with Germany's State Treaty on Gambling (GlüStV), which emphasizes maintaining high player protection and preventing addiction.
Operators have welcomed the new stake limits, viewing them as a recognition of the shortcomings of Germany’s online casino regulations in driving players toward the legal market.
Entain, one of the industry players, called the adjustment a “positive signal” for the licensed market. Simon Priglinger-Simader, senior regulatory affairs manager DACH at Entain and vice president of the German Online Casino Association (DOCV), expressed hope that this change will encourage more players to engage with regulated options.
The GGL has the authority to raise staking limits based on market evolution, but such decisions require approval from representatives of the 16 federal states on the authority's board. Priglinger-Simader noted that the adjustment reflects recognition that the regulated industry is struggling to combat the black market.
As the review of the Interstate Treaty nears its conclusion by the year’s end, it will be the first thorough examination since the treaty’s enactment in 2021. The purpose is to determine whether the treaty has successfully directed players to the legal market and mitigated problem gambling.
The industry poses that excessive regulations, elevated taxes, and slow approval processes are undermining competition against the black market. The DOCV cites an online channelisation rate in the “mid-double-digits,” which it argues is detrimental to player protection.
While major reforms are not anticipated from the review, there is a sense that lawmakers are increasingly serious about making the legal market more appealing.
Luka Andric, managing director of the German Sports Betting Association (DSWV), indicated that there is a developing awareness that the current framework fails to achieve its goal of establishing a competitive legal market. He advocates for revisions to ineffective regulations that impede player transition to legitimate options.
Priglinger-Simader foresees differing outcomes from the review as each state evaluates various aspects of the law. Some states may remain resistant to change, but there's optimism regarding potential adjustments in areas such as online table games and the five-second spin rule for online slots, which could be reconsidered.
The rules on deposit limits also remain under scrutiny, as current guidelines cap player deposits at €1,000 monthly, with higher amounts possible for select customers who pass scrutiny. Previous attempts to amend these rules faced disapproval, but a potential new draft might find a balance for increased limits coupled with stricter checks. A “worst-case scenario,” according to Priglinger-Simader, is reverting to the €1,000 cap.
For now, licensed operators are aiming to implement these increases and prepare for the necessary player tracking to safeguard customers. The impact of these changes will become clearer following the review's publication, with Priglinger-Simader predicting that further measures will be essential for long-term success in improving channelisation rates.
