GGL licence: what it means, how to check it, licensed casinos
Germany's joint state gambling authority in Halle, licensing online slots, online poker and sports and horse race betting under the GlüStV 2021.
Casinos with a page
5
Hunts tracked there
0
Accept crypto
0%
Founded
2021
About the Gemeinsame Glücksspielbehörde der Länder
The Gemeinsame Glücksspielbehörde der Länder (GGL) is a public-law institution based in Halle (Saale), set up by the 16 German federal states on 1 July 2021 when the Glücksspielstaatsvertrag 2021 entered into force. It took over its first enforcement tasks in July 2022 and became fully responsible for licensing and supervision on 1 January 2023, replacing a patchwork of individual state authorities.
The GGL issues permits for virtual slot games, online poker, online sports betting and online horse race betting, as well as nationwide social lotteries and class lotteries. Classic online table games such as roulette, baccarat and blackjack are not part of the GGL system; under the treaty only the states themselves may offer them.
For players, a German permit means the operator must follow strict rules: a default cross-operator deposit limit of 1,000 euros per month tracked through the LUGAS system, a minimum slot round of 5 seconds, a default 1 euro stake per slot round (with higher stakes allowed since July 2026 only for verified adults aged 21 and over under extra monitoring), a visible panic button and checks against the OASIS exclusion file.
To check a licence, search the GGL's official whitelist on gluecksspiel-behoerde.de. Any online gambling offer that is not on the whitelist is not permitted in Germany. The GGL also states that offers on domains not ending in .de are not licensed in Germany.
Recent changes
1 July 2021: GGL set up under the GlüStV 2021. 1 January 2023: GGL took over licensing and supervision of cross-border online gambling from individual states (for example Saxony-Anhalt for slots and poker, Hessen for sports and horse race betting). 30 June 2026: GGL amending notice allows stakes above 1 euro per slot round from 1 July 2026 (up to 3 or 5 euros under age and monitoring conditions); the decision guideline runs until 31 December 2027.
GGL licence facts
| Country | Germany |
|---|---|
| Founded | 2021 |
| Law | Glücksspielstaatsvertrag 2021 (GlüStV 2021), the interstate treaty on gambling in force since 1 July 2021 |
| Licenses | virtual slot games (online slots), online poker, online sports betting, online horse race betting, nationwide social lotteries, class lotteries, commercial lottery brokerage in several states |
| Licence types | Permit for virtual slot games, Permit for online poker, Permit for sports betting, Permit for online horse race betting |
| Market | Licenses operators that offer online gambling to players in Germany. Online table games such as roulette or blackjack are reserved to the individual federal states, not the GGL. |
| Self-exclusion | OASIS: Germany's cross-operator player exclusion system, run by Regierungspräsidium Darmstadt. It records self-exclusions, third-party exclusions and 24-hour panic-button blocks. |
| Player protection | Cross-operator deposit limit of 1,000 euros per month by default, monitored through the central LUGAS system. Default maximum stake of 1 euro per round on virtual slot games; since 1 July 2026 licensed operators may allow up to 3 euros for players aged 21+ and up to 5 euros for players aged 21+ with 90 days without warning signs and extra monitoring. Minimum game round of 5 seconds on virtual slot games. Panic button on every gaming page that triggers a 24-hour block. Licensed operators must check players against the OASIS exclusion file. Licensed operators must state on their homepage that they hold a German permit and name the issuing authority. |
| Complaints | The GGL does not settle disputes between players and operators, such as withheld payouts or loss refunds. Players can report unlicensed offers or rule breaches by licensed operators through the GGL's online reporting system (Hinweisgebersystem). |
| Licence register | www.gluecksspiel-behoerde.de/de/fuer-spielende/uebersicht-erlaubter-anbieter-whitelist |
| Website | www.gluecksspiel-behoerde.de |
Casinos with a GGL licence
Casinos with a CasinoHub page that list this licence, most hunted first.
GGL licence FAQ
How do I check if a casino or betting site holds a German licence?
Search the GGL whitelist on gluecksspiel-behoerde.de. It lists every permitted online operator and intermediary in Germany. If a site is not on the list, it has no German permit.
Can a GGL-licensed site offer online roulette or blackjack?
No. The GGL licenses virtual slot games and online poker, but classic online table games such as roulette, baccarat and blackjack may only be run by the federal states themselves.
What is the deposit limit at German licensed sites?
By default a player can deposit at most 1,000 euros per month across all licensed operators combined. The limit is tracked through the central LUGAS system. Raising it is only possible in exceptional cases after operator checks.
How much can I bet per spin on German online slots?
The default is 1 euro per round. Since 1 July 2026 operators may allow up to 3 euros for players aged 21 or over, and up to 5 euros for players aged 21 or over who have shown no warning signs for 90 days and agreed to extended monitoring.
How do I exclude myself from gambling in Germany?
Germany uses the OASIS exclusion system run by Regierungspräsidium Darmstadt. Licensed sites must offer self-exclusion and a panic button that blocks you for 24 hours, and they must check players against OASIS.
Will the GGL help me if an operator does not pay out?
No. The GGL does not handle civil disputes such as payout refusals or loss refunds. It does accept reports about unlicensed offers or rule breaches by licensed operators through its online reporting system.
Which casinos on CasinoHub hold a GGL licence?
5 casinos with a CasinoHub page list a GGL licence, including Betano, Betway, LeoVegas, Mr Green. Each casino page shows the licence details we checked.
Other gambling regulators
Researched by Konrad van Daath, checked 7 November 2026. Facts come from public sources (gluecksspiel-behoerde.de, igamingbusiness.com, sachsen-fernsehen.de). Always confirm a licence in the regulator's own register. Gambling is for adults only and can be addictive; play responsibly.
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