Online Poker in Germany: Legal Status, Best Rooms, and Rakeback
- Maria Emmanuelle Arnidou
- Dec 23
- 7 min read
If you’re looking to play online poker in Germany, the good news is that it’s legal on platforms that hold a German permit under the Glücksspielstaatsvertrag 2021 (GlüStV 2021) and are listed on the regulator’s official whitelist.
That “licensed-only” reality shapes everything players care about: not just where they can play, but how poker is structured and rewarded under German law.
Is online poker legal in Germany?
Yes, online poker became legal in Germany in all 16 states, after the 2021 Interstate Treaty on Gambling (GlüSTV). Under German law, poker is considered a game of chance – a.k.a. gambling. Online gambling operators – including the ones offering online poker in Germany – need to apply for a licence from the Joint Gambling Authority (Gemeinsame Glücksspielbehörde der Länder), based in the state of Saxony-Anhalt.
If you wish to check which online poker platforms hold an official German license, Germany’s regulator publishes an official Whitelist of permitted gambling operators, including those approved for Online Poker.
German regulation and the online poker experience
Germany’s regulated market is designed around consumer protection and oversight. That brings clear benefits (stronger safeguards, enforceable rules, formal complaint paths), but also some trade-offs compared to “global” poker ecosystems: a more compliance-heavy onboarding, tighter bonus mechanics, and (depending on the room) potentially smaller or more segmented liquidity than fully international networks.
This is what you need to know:
📌 1) There are explicit legal rules that affect how poker is offered
Under the German Interstate Treaty that legalised and now regulates online poker along with the rest of gambling, operators must comply with specific product requirements or they simply cannot be licensed. Operators must submit their rules of the game for approval, while any significant changes require approval too. That means regulators literally oversee how the game is structured and delivered.
📌 2) There are direct restrictions that shape gameplay and experience
German licensing rules have led to a set of practical limits that affect how poker rooms operate for German players.
These aren’t just random bonuses – they’re explicit conditions tied to compliance and (in cases) part of licence requirements:
Regulatory limits that directly affect the product:
Maximum of 4 simultaneous tables – a binding gameplay restriction. It directly reduces how many hands a player can run at once vs fully global rooms.
Mandatory “blind lobby” (no seat choice) – a structural limitation on how matches are joined.
Monthly deposit cap of €1,000 across poker and slots – a hard limit that caps how much a player can fund their account before hitting regulatory limits – applies across online gambling in Germany.
KYC and self-exclusion (“panic button”) requirements – blocks the player’s account for 24 hours, offers strong player protection that changes the user journey.
📌 3) Rakeback, bonuses & rewards are indirectly limited by law
You won’t find a clause in the GlüStV that says “no rakeback” – the case is that the regulatory ecosystem makes traditional rakeback difficult. Here’s why:
🔹 Taxes
Germany levies a 5.3% tax for operators on poker stakes – this is a charge based on total bets, not profit, increasing operational costs. Licensed rooms commonly pass some of this cost into higher effective rake or lower promotions for players.
🔹 Responsible gambling & advertising
Strict responsible-gambling and advertising law means:
Cashback/bonus offerings must meet consumer protection standards.
Advertising is restricted (times, content, audiences), which limits aggressive promotional campaigns.
Because operators have to prove compliance with player protection metrics and product safety/simplicity up-front, many classical rakeback programs – which often involve frequent bonus offers and reward pacing – either can’t be offered or must be transformed into points, tickets, or conditional rewards.
This isn’t because legislators singled out rakeback – but because all promotions now have to pass strict safety and consumer protection requirements that historically rakeback wouldn’t.
📌 4) Player pools are affected by segmentation rules
There’s nothing in the law that forbids merging German traffic into a global pool, but many operators need to run .de-branded clients with their own compliance stack for German players (KYC, deposit caps, compliance checks).
From the operator side, this often means:
Separate player pools or segmented traffic (because the .de client is technically different for compliance reasons)
Different table formats or limits
Only licensed players count for regulated liquidity
While this is not a direct clause like “pools must be German only,” it is an operational requirement from compliance and regulatory approval that makes truly global liquidity harder.
Best legal online poker rooms in Germany – based on the official whitelist
Below are the core legal poker rooms you’ll typically see referenced for Germany – because they appear on the GGL whitelist under “Online-Poker.”
PokerStars (pokerstars.de)
PokerStars is one of the most recognizable poker platforms globally, and the German-facing product is listed as permitted for Online-Poker. It’s a strong choice if you care about a polished client, a deep tournament schedule style, and an “established ecosystem” feel. On the promos side, expect regulation-friendly incentives rather than wild west deals.
GGPoker (ggpoker.de)
GGPoker has built a reputation around modern tournament formats, feature-rich gameplay, and a very “event-driven” experience. Germany’s permitted version appears on the whitelist, which is the key point from a legal/safety angle. If you like high-energy series formats and a newer-school client experience, this tends to be the room people shortlist.
888poker (888poker.de)
888poker is another long-standing brand listed for Online-Poker on the whitelist. It can be a solid fit for players who want a straightforward user experience and familiar formats without needing a million bells and whistles.
partypoker (partypoker.de) + bpremium (bpremium.de)
These are associated with the same operator entry on the whitelist and are listed as permitted for online poker. For players, the practical decision usually comes down to: which skin/client experience you prefer, what promotions are available at the moment, and how the traffic looks at your preferred hours.
bwin (bwin.de)
bwin is listed under Online-Poker on the whitelist as well. If you like an “operator ecosystem” feel (sportsbook + casino + poker under one umbrella), bwin may appeal – but as always, the right call depends on your priorities: cash games vs tournaments, software preference, and what kind of rewards are actually offered compliantly in Germany.
🟣 Important reality check: “Best” is personal. The best room for you is usually the one that matches your playing hours and format preference, has reliable withdrawals, and offers the most value after terms (fees, wagering rules, reward mechanics). The whitelist is step one; fit is step two.
🟣 Important reality check – part 2: Wait, do you know all about playing poker? At DepToWin’s Online Casino Games Guide you’ll find out more about 3-hand and 5-hand poker.
Rakeback in Germany: What to expect and how to evaluate it
Let’s clear the fog: in regulated markets, traditional rakeback (a clean percentage of the rake held by operator given back, no strings attached) is often replaced by reward programs that look like:
points/VIP systems
missions or “challenges”
tournament tickets instead of cash
time-limited cashback promos with strict terms
The reason is simple: Germany’s market is designed to control incentives and strengthen player protection, and operators have to comply with licence conditions and responsible gambling requirements.
How to compare rakeback
When a room markets “cashback” or “rewards,” evaluate it using three questions:
What is the effective value?
Is it cash, tickets, or bonuses with wagering? Cash-like value usually beats “locked” value.
What are the conditions?
Look for caps, time windows, game restrictions, or withdrawal restrictions.
Is it sustainable for your volume?
A rewards system that sounds great but only works at extreme volume might not be “great” for normal humans with lives.
Online Poker in Germany and beyond
As we saw, the licensed online poker platforms in Germany come with a strict set of rules that shape the game, which leads many players to other platforms, holding licenses from different regulatory authorities – for example from Curaçao, Malta, or the UKGC.
At DepToWin, our goal is to help readers make informed decisions about online poker and gambling – from understanding regulation and player protection to choosing platforms that prioritise safety and transparency
🟣 If you are looking for trusted casinos with online poker, browse DepToWin’s online casino reviews and ratings – get expert insights and real player feedback, and pick the platform that works best for you.
FAQs:
1) Is online poker legal in Germany in 2025?
Yes – but only with operators that hold a German permit under GlüStV 2021 and appear on the GGL whitelist for Online-Poker.
2) How can I check if a poker site is legal in Germany?
Use the official GGL whitelist and filter for Online-Poker. If the site isn’t listed there for online poker, it’s not legally permitted for Germany.
3) What are the best legal online poker rooms in Germany?
The “best” legal rooms are the ones listed on the GGL whitelist for Online-Poker and that match your play style. Examples commonly found there include PokerStars, GGPoker, 888poker, partypoker/bpremium, and bwin (verify on the whitelist).
4) Can I get rakeback in Germany?
Often yes, but it may appear as rewards, missions, tickets, or cashback promos rather than classic flat-percentage rakeback. Always check terms carefully.
5) Why does regulated poker in Germany feel different from “international” poker?
Regulated poker typically includes stricter compliance, player protection controls, and sometimes a more segmented market structure compared to fully global networks.
6) What is OASIS in Germany gambling?
OASIS is a nationwide player-blocking system that lets people self-exclude from higher-risk gambling products across Germany, as part of player protection.
7) What should I watch for before claiming poker bonuses in Germany?
Read the bonus terms: wagering requirements, max bet rules, eligible games, time limits, and withdrawal restrictions. In regulated markets, promotions tend to be more controlled and more conditional.