Are offshore betting sites legal in Germany?

The legality of using offshore betting sites in Germany is a nuanced issue. Under the Interstate Treaty on Gambling 2021 (GlüStV 2021), only operators holding a valid German license are permitted to offer online gambling services to German residents. Any operator without such a license is considered illegal.

The German authorities, particularly the GGL, actively work to prevent access to these unlicensed sites through measures like IP blocking and payment blocking. The German Criminal Code also penalizes the organization and promotion of unauthorized gambling. However, the enforcement focus is primarily on the operators of these illegal websites, not the individual players.

This has created a 'gray market' where German players can and do access offshore crypto casinos, often at their own risk. While players are unlikely to face criminal prosecution, they have no legal recourse or consumer protection if they encounter issues with these unlicensed operators, such as disputes over winnings or unfair gaming practices.

Therefore, while not explicitly illegal for players, using offshore betting sites is strongly discouraged by German authorities and carries significant personal and financial risks.