Gambling age and rules in Germany (2026)
Last reviewed: 7 November 2026
In short: Under the 2021 Interstate Treaty on Gambling, minors may not take part in public gambling. Online gambling is banned except for licensed lotteries, sports and horse betting, online casino games, virtual slots and online poker. The joint Länder authority (GGL) supervises gambling.
| Rule | What applies |
|---|---|
| Minimum age for casinosGambling | Minors may not take part in public gambling, and operators and intermediaries must make sure minors are excluded. The only exception is minors' participation in raffles at fairs and similar events where the prize is only goods of low value. [1] |
| Minimum age for lotteriesGambling | Minors may not take part in public gambling, and operators and intermediaries must make sure minors are excluded. The only exception is minors' participation in raffles at fairs and similar events where the prize is only goods of low value. [1] |
| Minimum age for sports bettingGambling | Minors may not take part in public gambling, and operators and intermediaries must make sure minors are excluded. [1] |
| Online gamblingGambling | Public gambling on the internet is banned in general. Licences can be granted only for online lotteries, sports and horse betting, online casino games, virtual slot machines and online poker. [1] |
| Gambling regulatorGambling | The Länder set up the "Gemeinsame Glücksspielbehörde der Länder" (GGL), a public-law institution seated in Saxony-Anhalt, to supervise gambling, especially on the internet. [2] |
Sources
- Bayern.Recht (Bayerische Staatskanzlei): GlüStV 2021: § 4 Allgemeine Bestimmungen zur Erlaubniserteilung (consulted 7 November 2026) · all sources
- Bayern.Recht (Bayerische Staatskanzlei): GlüStV 2021: § 27a Errichtung, Rechtsform, Name, Sitz, anzuwendendes Recht, Dienstsiegel (consulted 7 November 2026) · all sources
Related pages
General information, not legal advice. Rules change: check the official source before you fly or ride.