Europe · DE
Germany
Nationwide online sports betting, virtual slots and poker are licensed by the GGL; BaFin supervises payments, e-money, investment and crypto-asset businesses.
At a glance
- Status
- EU member state
- Region
- Europe
- Regulated sectors
- GamingPaymentsCryptoInvestment
- Authorities
- BaFin · GGL · FIU
- Licensing routes
- 4
- See also
- EU / MiCA
Overview
The framework
Germany's Interstate Treaty on Gambling permits licensed online sports betting, virtual slot machine games and online poker. Licensing and supervision of these nationwide online products sit with the Joint Gambling Authority of the German States (GGL), while online casino table games are left to the individual federal states.
BaFin supervises banks, payment and e-money institutions, investment firms and crypto-asset service providers under MiCA. We prepare applications to BaFin and the GGL.
Authorities
Who regulates what
- Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (BaFin)
- Banks, payment and e-money institutions, investment firms and crypto-asset service providers.
- Joint Gambling Authority of the German States (GGL)
- Licensing and supervision of nationwide online gambling products, and enforcement against unlicensed offers.
- Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU)
- Suspicious transaction reporting; part of the customs administration.
Regimes
Licensing routes
Online sports betting, virtual slots and online poker
Nationwide licences under the Interstate Treaty on Gambling, granted by the GGL.
Sectors: Gaming
Payment / e-money institution
BaFin authorisation, passportable across the EEA.
Sectors: Payments
Investment firm
BaFin authorisation under the Investment Firm Act.
Sectors: Investment
MiCA CASP authorisation
Crypto-asset services authorised by BaFin.
Sectors: Crypto
Our Regulatory & Licensing practice prepares the applications for these routes and manages them through to the regulator's decision.
Considerations
What to weigh up
- Design the product around the Interstate Treaty's rules, such as cross-operator deposit limits; they shape the offer as much as the licence does.
- Extend financial licences by EU passporting; gambling licences are not passportable.
This overview is general information, summarised at a high level. Requirements change and depend on the specific activity; seek advice on your circumstances before acting.
Industries
Relevant industries
- iGaming & GamingB2C operators, B2B suppliers, platforms, aggregators and affiliates.
- Fintech & PaymentsPayment and e-money institutions, PSPs and acquirers, payment facilitators and embedded finance.
- Crypto & Digital AssetsCASPs and VASPs, exchanges, custodians, wallets, token projects and crypto payments.
- Forex & InvestmentsForex and CFD brokers, investment firms, trading and investment platforms.
Across jurisdictions
Cross-jurisdiction capabilities
Services we support across the jurisdictions in our directory, described once on their own pages. We deliver each to the requirements that apply locally, coordinating local specialists where local law, registration, representation or professional requirements require it.
- Privacy & Data ProtectionExternal DPO services and working privacy programmes: GDPR and global privacy laws, DPIAs, data mapping, transfers and ISO/IEC 27701.
- Information Security & CybersecurityFractional CISO support, ISMS and security programmes, certification and audit readiness, DORA, NIS2 and customer assurance for enterprise sales.
- AI GovernanceGovernance that lets AI adoption scale: EU AI Act readiness, ISO/IEC 42001 management systems, AI risk and impact assessments, and vendor risk.
- AML & Financial Crime ComplianceAML/CFT programmes, MLRO-as-a-Service, independent AML/CFT audits, risk assessments, monitoring, sanctions and inspection support.
- IP Registration & ProtectionTrademark and patent registration, copyright, domain disputes and enforcement that protect your brand, software and content across markets.
- Legal OpinionsRegulatory, business model, perimeter, payment, gaming, crypto-asset and cross-border opinions that answer what banks and investors ask.
- Bank Account OpeningHelp organising your banking with banks and EMIs that fit your model, from the onboarding file and account structure to periodic reviews.
- Merchant Account / Acquiring SetupMerchant applications, acquiring structure and negotiated terms for online and high-risk merchants that need stable card and local payment acceptance.
Support
Germany: how we support your business
- Regulatory & LicensingStrategy, applications and regulator engagement for the gaming, payments, crypto and investment routes listed above.
- Corporate StructuringGroup architecture, incorporation, substance and governance built around your licences, banking and investors.
- Market Entry & Regulatory StrategyMarket prioritisation, regulatory roadmaps and launch readiness that let you expand into new jurisdictions in the right order.
- Information Security & CybersecurityDORA, NIS2 and the information security obligations that apply under EU law.
Germany: the right fit for your business?
We look at your product, target clients and banking needs to see whether this jurisdiction fits or another would serve you better, then send a written proposal with scope, timetable and fee.