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Best Online Poker Sites in Germany 2025
If you’re searching for online poker in Germany to play with real money, you can get a nice variety, as online poker is legal in the country. However, platforms that offer online poker tables are limited by fairly strict requirements of the licensing authority. Therefore, many players consider offshore sites as an option. We’ve reviewed the best poker sites for German poker players, so feel free to choose one below.
Top poker sites for German poker players
Online poker in Germany is available to players on licensed poker rooms. It’s legal if the website has a license and follows all the rules. In addition, players from Germany have access to a large number of offshore poker sites that don’t receive a license in Germany, but have one in Curacao, UKGC or Malta. Our team will consider all the options for how you can play online poker in Germany, so that you can choose the safest and most convenient way.
| Ranking | Poker site |
Welcome bonus
|
|---|---|---|
| ⭐ Best online poker site in Germany | BetOnline | 100% up to $1,000 |
| ✅ Best poker games | WPT Global | 100% up to $3,000 |
| ✅ Best crypto site | CoinPoker | 150% up to $2,000 |
| ✅ Best legal poker site | GGPoker | 100 % up to €100 |
Reach our team of experts to get advice on where and how to play safely:
GGPoker - best legal poker site
GGPoker is one of the few poker sites officially licensed to operate in Germany. The poker room received a German license in 2023 and operates under strict regulation. A separate domain GGPoker.de operates for German players.
The lobby offers Hold'em and Omaha cash tables, including the Rush&Cash fast poker format. The game is played 24/7, up to $10/$20 limit tables.
Licensing restrictions do not prevent Germans from participating in major online series, including WSOP Online.
GGPoker.de has several differences from its global analogue:
- Rake 6%.
- Maximum deposit bonus is 100 euros.
- Multitabling is limited to 4 tables.
- Seating at the tables is random.
- No cryptocurrencies in the cashier, only payment methods licensed in the EU.
BetOnline Poker
BetOnline is an offshore poker room with a Panama license that accepts players from Germany. The site has been operating on the market for a long time and has an impeccable reputation.
Players have access to Hold'em cash games and several Omaha variants with stakes up to $5/$10. The majority of NLH traffic comes from full ring tables.
Millions of dollars circulate in BetOnline tournaments every month. The top Main Event has a guarantee of $100K to $200K. Windfall Spins with multipliers up to x10,000 and classic SnGs with buy-ins up to $100 are available in the lobby.
For the first deposit, players receive a 100% bonus up to $1,000 on their first deposit. After wagering it, rakeback is only possible in the form of prizes in daily leaderboards.
Unlike GGPoker.de, BetOnline offers players from Germany 19 cryptocurrencies for deposits and withdrawals, making all money transfers completely anonymous.
CoinPoker
CoinPoker is the perfect choice for players from Germany who value complete anonymity. The poker room is based on the blockchain and does not require account verification. All funds are stored on external wallets, and hands are processed through a decentralized RNG, eliminating any manipulation of hands.
The CoinPoker client has a simple and classic interface. Players can choose cash tables for NLH, PLO, PLO5 with stakes from micro limits to $200/$400, as well as take part in tournaments with guarantees of up to $100,000.
A 150% bonus up to $2,000 applies to the first deposit. Rakeback of 33% under the loyalty program is credited every Monday. CoinPoker regularly holds races and offers exclusive terms to players who registered through WPD.
The poker room is especially suitable for German players who are not satisfied with the restrictions of local legislation.
How do we choose the best German poker sites
Poker sites operating in regulated markets have already passed the necessary regulatory checks, so they are considered reliable by default. At Worldpokerdeals, however, we look at a wide range of factors to help our players choose sites that offer good promotions, rakeback and 24\7 traffic:
- License. A valid license ensures the operator meets Germany’s strict player protection and anti-addiction standards. As for offshore poker websites, we recommend Malta, Isle of Man or UKGC.
- Background and reviews. Look up the company that operates the platform and its reputation. Also, read reviews from real players who have played on a poker site. Some of the offshore sites included in our list have more than 10 years of experience on the market.
- Security measures. For example, it’s great when the platform conducts checks like KYC and implements SSL encryption.
- Payment methods: We prefer convenient deposit and withdrawal methods, such as SEPA bank transfers, e-wallets or cryptocurrency. Also consider the limits and time frames for deposits and withdrawals.
- Games and traffic. We choose poker sites with a strong focus on European time.
Online Poker in Germany
If you are located in Germany, you can get access to many local online poker site. The only requirement is that they must comply with the State Treaty on Gambling (GlüStV). Providers licensed in other EU countries (e.g., Malta) are not legal for use within Germany, which puts all offshore sites in the gray area of law.
However, many large international gambling platforms with poker tables allow players from Germany.
Offshore poker sites tend to have more poker tables, a wider selection of games, and very good liquidity. In the case of a dispute with the poker room, there will be no one to protect you, but maybe you won’t need anyone, as there are numerous options that have good reviews and a good reputation. Just make sure to check the poker site beforehand.
Legal background of online poker in Germany
Yes, online poker is legal in Germany, but only under strict national regulation. In July 2021, the Interstate Treaty on Gambling (Glücksspielneuregulierungstaatsvertrag – GlüStV) came into effect across all 16 federal states, creating a unified framework for online gambling, including, of course, online poker.
Operators must obtain a license through the Joint Gambling Authority of the Federal States (Gemeinsame Glücksspielbehörde der Länder – GGL), based in Saxony-Anhalt to legally operate in Germany.
As for players, they can legally play online poker if:
- They are 18 or older.
- Play on a GGL-licensed site.
- Verify their identity.
- Accept the standard €1,000 monthly deposit limit.
All these changes brought with them some restrictions. The monthly deposit limit is too low to play any stake beyond NL50, and MTT regs won't be allowed to play the most exciting events. This is one of the most complex requirements of the new German law.
Also up to 5.3% tax is charged on every poker hand. Although this tax is paid by the poker site, it actually means higher rake and fewer promotions for poker players.
On the other hand, it seems that there are no particular restrictions for any poker format, and Germans would be allowed to join a global player pool instead of a closed liquidity market. The new law will make games safer for casual players, although they won't be able to mix poker with casino games for now.
Offshore poker sites still accept German users, but they are not licensed or regulated in the same way as sites in Germany. Players are not breaking the law by using such sites, but they do not offer the same legal protection.
Regulation of online poker sites in Germany
There are several important requirements for the poker platforms as well, apart from getting the GGL license:
- A new monthly deposit cap of €1,000 (poker and slots).
- A table cap of four.
- All players must verify their identity and address.
- A "panic button" on every table with a 24-hour self -exclusion period.
- No multi-lobbying is allowed.
- Deposits and withdrawals can be processed be possible only via bank account.
- Blind lobby (random table seating).
- The creation of a common database including win/losses.
- No casino games like Blackjack or Roulette should be offered (only slots allowed).
- P2P transfers won't be allowed.
- An office in the EU/EAA is required.
- Operators must show complete information about fees and payouts.
- The client must show an hourly pop-up message with a mandatory acknowledgment.
Global operators sites like GGPoker, partypoker, PokerStars, or Unibet have reacted in different ways to the new tolerance policy, but clearly, some points have made it very problematic for professional poker players to keep playing online.
The Interstate Treaty on Gambling (GlüNeuRStV) created a national framework for licensing and supervising online gambling, including poker. It implemented strict rules, but ensured greater state control and consumer protection. Now, the licensed platforms are dominating, although players still have access to offshore sites.
Payment methods
In Germany, popular payment methods for online poker sites include traditional bank transfers (SEPA), instant banking services like Sofort (via Klarna), e-wallets such as PayPal and Skrill, and prepaid options like Paysafecard. You will notice the focus on security here. Some platforms can offer crypto for more savvy players.
Most German-licensed poker sites enforce a universal monthly deposit cap of €1,000 as required by law. The minimum deposits can start from €10 or €20. If you use Sofort, PayPal, or Skrill for deposits, they will be almost instant, while SEPA bank transfers may take 1 to 3 business days.
Is there any way to raise the deposit limit? Unfortunately, there is no way to raise the deposit limit now. You'll be able to deposit only €1k/month, which is, of course, low for a grinder. In the future, after the German Interstate Treaty comes into force, there is a slight chance that the limits will be raised.
Live poker
Live poker in Germany is legal and available at licensed land-based casinos. Each federal state of the country regulates its own gambling facilities. Most larger cities, including Berlin, Hamburg, Munich, and Wiesbaden, have legal casinos that offer live poker cash games and tournaments. The most famous is Casino Schenefeld near Hamburg, known for hosting major events like the European Poker Tour (EPT), German Poker Tour and partypoker LIVE events.
As for the visitors, most casinos and poker card rooms will ask for a casual dress code and will surely check your ID. You need to be at least 18 to play, or 21 in locations like Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg.
As legal poker rooms must obtain a license, all private poker clubs or underground games that involve rake or entry fees but work without a license will be considered illegal. It can cause a fine or imprisonment for up to 2 years. However, if you simply wish to play poker at home without a rake for a host, you are free to do so.
Best German poker players
The names of all the TOP-10 players from the country's rating according to The Hendon Mob are well-known not only in Germany, but also around the world. These are Christoph Vogelsang, Rainer Kempe, Koray Aldemir, Dominik Nitsche, Ole Schemion, Steffen Sontheimer, Manig Loeser, and, of course, Fedor Holz. It is noteworthy that all these players have won more than $10M in live tournaments.
Although Holz is just over 30, he has officially finished his poker career. The German began actively playing online tournaments in 2013, and the following year he became the first in the WCOOP Main Event and received $1.3 million.
In 2015-2016, the poker player won more than 22 million in live tournaments, and at the moment he has $50M+ on his account. In recent years, the "poker prodigy" has only occasionally appeared at the tables of the most expensive tournaments.
In terms of the number of WSOP bracelets won, players from Germany are ranked 4th in the world. They have almost 70 victories in World Series tournaments. Four of them were won by George Danzer back in 2014 and 2016.
Dominik "bounatirouIMO" Nitsche is currently showing the best results in tournaments among Germans online. The total amount of winnings is more than $8M. He was able to get this amount by getting into the prizes in thousands of MTTs, and Dominik's biggest win is $188,140.
Conclusion
Players in Germany are free to play online poker. They have several German options like PokerStars.de, GGPoker.de, and others. These German platforms are licensed and offer protection for players, as well as limitations, such as a €1,000 monthly deposit limit. You can also visit offshore websites with a foreign license, but do it carefully.
Responsible Gambling
Responsible gambling is taken very seriously in Germany. For example, all licensed platforms must use tools like deposit limits (up to €1,000) and session timers. Features like auto-play must be blocked so as not to make the game process easier. In addition, Germany uses a national self-exclusion system called OASIS, which allows players to voluntarily exclude themselves from all licensed gambling operators.
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