Online Casino Games Coming To German States Baden-Württemberg

The government for the German state of Baden-Württemberg has approved legislation that will soon allow local online casino aficionados to enjoy a range of table games such as blackjack, baccarat and roulette.

The move for the territory of some eleven million people comes some four years after federal lawmakers ratified the State Treaty on Gambling (GlüStV) 2021 so as to allow the country’s 16 states to begin formulating their own individual rules on iGaming. 

This measure additionally legalized the provision of online slots nationwide and resulted in the German jurisdictions of Bavaria, North Rhine-Westphalia and Schleswig-Holstein approving their own comparable table games legislation.

Particular Provisions

The Baden-Württemberg legislation gives the state-run Lotto Baden-Württemberg entity a monopoly on the provision of online table games across Germany’s third largest state. The measure also instigates a progressive monthly tax system on any resultant gross revenues beginning at 15% on proceeds of up to €300,000 ($313,200) before topping out at 25% on dividends of over €750,000 ($782,000).

To help ensure greater oversight and accountability over the incoming table games, the legislation for the southwestern state moreover obliges Lotto Baden-Württemberg, which is an established lottery and iGaming operator, to utilize secure payment methods and employ a number of player safeguards encompassing age verification and responsible gambling programs.

Safety Serious

The Policy Advisor for the German Online Casino Association (DOCV), Philipp Bauer, told Casinos.com the new legislation furthermore abides by the tenets of the GlüStV in instituting a 5.3% tax on player stakes and forbidding aficionados from spending more than €1,000 ($1,040) per month on online table games.

“We think it is very important for safety measures to be in place for the legal iGaming market in Germany but there also has to be a good balance between these protections and the ability of players to enjoy such games online,” Bauer said. 

“We also want good channelization as unlicensed operators currently account for up to 80% of all online slot revenues in Germany. We would like to bring people back into the legal market but the 5.3% state tax on slot spins reduces any player returns and makes games double the price of those offered by unlicensed operators.”

Desired Development

Bauer said the new legislation should go a long way towards establishing a legal and secure environment for table game aficionados in Baden-Württemberg and allowing the state to enhance its overall online gambling market. He went on to describe the move as a ‘step in the right direction’ despite admitting to ‘not being a fan of monopolies’.

“I think it is very important to allow people to play table games in a legal market,” Bauer said. 

“We would have preferred it if Baden-Württemberg had followed Schleswig-Holstein and North Rhine-Westphalia in utilizing a licensing model rather than a monopoly operator but we need to have a legal market. 

"Currently there is no legal market for online table games in twelve German states and this results in players in those areas utilizing unlicensed operators offering no protections at all. If you want to play, you should be able to play in a safe and legal environment.”

Imminent Introduction

The DOCV represents the interests of 15 iGaming operators accounting for more than 90% of Germany’s legal market and Bauer predicted Lotto Baden-Württemberg could have ‘a running market’ in online table games from as early as the summer.

“I think Lotto Baden-Württemberg will be quite fast,” Bauer said. I don’t know for sure but the new legislation came through very fast and I can speculate we won’t have to wait long.”