The 12 best casinos in Germany
A guide to the best casinos in germany for gambling – plus where things stand with online casino in Germany.
You might not think of this central European country as a major gaming destination, but there are dozens of casinos in Germany where you can gamble. Keen players have more than 50 casinos in Germany to pick from, and they’re spread all over the country.
Casinos in Germany can be found in most large cities, so if you’re visiting for work or a weekend break, you’re likely to find a venue nearby for gambling in Germany.
However, some of the most famous – and most historic – casinos in Germany are located not in major cities but in more rural resorts and spa towns. These are identified by the word “Bad” at the beginning of their names, which means “bath” or “spa”.
Well-known examples of these include Casino Bad Ems, based at a spa that dates all the way back to 1720, and the spectacular lakeside Casino Bad Wiessee.
Given the number of casinos in Germany and their very varied locations, venues can differ immensely in their style and atmosphere. Many city casinos are modern steel and glass structures, but some of the historic spa casinos look like palaces.
In the list below, we’ll present a rundown of the 12 best casinos in Germany. By the way, if you’re wondering how to say “casino” in German, the word is Spielbank, and the plural is Spielbanken. See that word on the sign and you know you’re in the right place to place a bet.
Gambling at casinos in Germany
Most German casinos offer classic table games, from Roulette to blackjack, baccarat and punto banco. Of course, they also have plenty of slots.
German casinos are primarily gambling venues. Don’t go expecting shows or any of the entertainment you’d expect somewhere like Las Vegas. While many have good food and drink options, and the “bad” casinos are often attached to accommodation and spa facilities, there isn’t usually much on offer in terms of additional entertainment.
Rules on dress vary, as do opening hours. Opt for smart casual if in doubt. In most cases, table games open only after midday, but slots may sometimes be available earlier.
German gambling laws
German gambling laws vary from state to state. There are 16 federal states in Germany and each can set its own laws for gambling.
They share many elements, of course. Customers must almost always be aged over 18 to enter a casino and must present a valid photo ID to enter.
Like all public spaces in Germany, casinos do not permit smoking indoors. That said, you may see some ingenious workarounds – for example smoking stalls that look like phone booths next to gaming tables).
1. Casino Berlin
Berlin is one of the most popular German cities to visit for a weekend break. Fortunately, there are several casinos in the city, four of them operating under the Casino Berlin name. These are all modern city casinos.
The flagship Casino Berlin Potsdamer Platz (pictured) has a gaming floor of about 118,403 square feet with over 300 gaming machines and 12 table games. The poker floor has eight tables. Slots operate 11am to 5am and live table games from 5pm until 2.45am. Poker starts from 6pm.
The smaller Casino Berlin Fernsehturm near the Berlin TV Tower offers 195 slots but just five live table games and three poker tables. Slots are open from 11am to 3am and table games and poker from 7pm to 3am. Smart casual clothing is fine for entry, as long as men wear long trousers and closed footwear. Casino Berlin’s other venues are Kurfurstendamm 31 and Spandau.
Casino Berlin Potsdamer Platz Marlene-Dietrich-Platz 1, 10785 Berlin. Casino Berlin Fernsehturm Panoramastraße 1A, 10178 Berlin.
2. Baden-Baden Casino
For a more luxurious experience, the Baden-Baden Casino is one of the grandest casinos in Germany. It’s also one of the most historic. Dating back more than 200 years, the Baden-Baden casino forms part of a spa resort called The Kurhaus.
The main structure with its grand Corinthian columns and neo-classical friezes was designed in 1824. It’s so historic, in fact, that Fyodor Dostoyevsky wrote his novel The Gambler after being inspired by a visit to this German casino. Today it remains one of Germany’s most traditional gambling venues.
It boasts a 2,200 square foot gaming floor with more than 140 slots and 18 table games. There’s a small entry fee of €5 to enter the main casino and 1 Euro to play slots alone. Of course, considering this German casino’s prestige, you should attend appropriately attired.
Kaiserallee 1, 76530 Baden-Baden.
3. Casino Esplanade
Casino Esplanade is a much less historic affair but still offers a good range of gaming if you find yourself in Hamburg, the second-largest city in Germany.
The two-story casino opened in 1978. The gaming floor spans 22,000 square feet and houses more than 135 slot machines featuring a range of games including video poker and electronic roulette. There are also 13 tables games on the first floor, and five live poker tables.
Casual attire is allowed in the slots area, but men must wear a jacket and in the live table games area. Women must wear a dress or blazer in the live gaming area.
Stephanspl 10, 20354 Hamburg.
4. Casino Bad Wiessee
Looking for gambling in Germany that also offers postcard views? This resort casino is situated on the western shore of Tegernsee Lake, affording fresh air and wonderful natural surroundings. It originally opened in 1957, although the current building was built between 2003 and 2005.
The slot area is on the ground floor has more than 200 machines. Meanwhile, there are 13 table games, including five American roulette tables, three French roulette tables, and three blackjack tables. For poker fans, there’s Texas Hold’em and Bavarian Texas Hold’em for a more local twist.
Winner 1, 83707 Bad Wiessee.
See also: The 6 best casinos in Spain
5. Casino Bad Ems
If you’re digging the sound of all of these historic casinos in Germany, then this is one that’s not to be missed. The current casino itself isn’t so old – it opened in 1987, but the original venue dates back to 1720.
Part of the Kursaal building on the banks of the River Lahn, the space originally held a concert hall. It was first licensed as a casino in 1720, but gambling was prohibited in the 19th century. Gambling returned to the spa thanks to the casinos Mainz and Trier. The 3,300 square foot casino features bingo and 35 slot machines that include Multi Roulette. There are two German roulette tables.
If you want to see a piece of German gambling history, the original roulette table from 1720 is house in the town’s museum.
Römerstraße 8, 56130 Bad Ems.
6. Casino Duisburg
Boasting a massive 87,188 in gaming floor, the stylish Casino Duisburg is without doubt one the busiest casinos in Germany. It offers huge choice, with 300 slots and 26 tables offering the likes of blackjack, roulette, and Ultimate Texas Hold Em. The separate poker room hosts five tables.
This modern casino (Casino Duisburg opened in 2007) also houses a highly rated bar. The casino claims the illuminated surface of the bar makes customers feel they’re in a “foreign galaxy”. Smart dress is recommended.
Landfermannstraße 6, 47051 Duisburg.
7. Casino Bad Homburg
Another historic spa casino, Spielbank Bad Homburg was founded in 1841 in the resort town of the same name. It boasts a gaming floor covering 5,500 square feet.
Gaming options include 160 slots, 12 table games and five poker tables. Semi-formal dress is recommended for the table games areas.
Kisseleffstraße 35, 61348 Bad Homburg vor der Höhe.
8. Casino Bad Neuenahr
Another German casino with some quality period architecture, the Casino Bad Neuenahr is housed in a classic Art Nouveau building. It opened in 1948, and today features a slots area dubbed “Jackpot Corner” with more than 120 machines.
There are eight table games and regular poker tournaments. A smart casual look is expected if you wish to gamble at this German casino.
Felix-Rütten-Straße 1, 53474 Bad Neuenahr-Ahrweiler.
9. Casino Bad Kissingen
Another one of the famous spa casinos in Germany, this venue in Bayern has a gaming floor covering 3,500 square feet. Despite its long history, it now boasts modern installations.
Here you’ll find six table games and 90 slots. There’s also a restaurant and two bars.
Im Luitpoldpark 1, 97688 Bad Kissingen.
10. Casino Bad Zwischenahn
More interesting architecture here. It looks like a traditional old pub from the outside, but Casino Bad Zwischenahn is actually one of the top Vegas-style casinos in Germany.
The casino boasts two floors of gaming covering 9,500 square feet. There are 200 gaming machines and five table games, as well as a poker room on the first floor. There are two bars for breaks. No need to wear a jacket or tie here, but smart-casual is advised.
Eiden 11, 26160 Bad Zwischenahn.
11. Casino Konstanz
One of the smaller casinos in Germany, this venue is still worth a look if you’re in the area. The gaming floor occupies around 4,500 square feet and features more than 130 slot machines and six table games. There’s also a poker room with three cash game tables. You have to pay a minimal amount of €3 to enter the casino.
The restaurant specialises in Italian dishes such as pizzas and pasta. A jacket is needed for the table games area.
Seestraße 21, 78464 Konstanz.
12. Casino Bad Fussing
Opened in 1999, this German gambling venue is housed in a striking octagonal building. The gaming floor covers 3,445 square feet, offering more than 90 gaming machines, eight table games and two poker games.
As well as the usual casino games, you can also find electronic roulette, Casino Hold’em, and bingo. Men must wear a jacket, but smart casual wear is generally accepted.
Kurhausstraße 1, 94072 Bad Füssing.
13. Casino Bremen
Located in the centre of Bremen’s nightlife area, this casino offers over 120 slot machines, eight table games, and four poker tables. It’s a popular spot, so it’s necessary to reserve a table.
Opened in 1980, Casino Bremen permits casual dress. Speak to the staff for higher limits and more tables.
Schlachte 26, 28195 Bremen.
See also: Largest Casino in America: What Are the Biggest Casinos in the US?
Online casino in Germany
Lawmakers have passed new gambling legislation that allows for the regulation of online casino in Germany. Germany’s Fourth Interstate Treaty on Gambling finally reached the end of its long path into law in the first quarter of 2021. It comes into force on July 1, marking the official start to legal online gambling in Germany.
It took almost a decade for the country’s 16 states to agree to the establishment of a federal regime for online gambling in Germany. The process of passing legislation was held up by disagreements over rules, licensing requirements, taxation and protections for Germany’s state-level gambling monopolies.
What does new legislation mean for online casino in Germany?
The Fourth Interstate Treaty imposes a strict regime on licensed operators that offer online gambling in Germany.
German states will be obligated to follow the new treaty until 31 December, 2028, after which they will have the option to withdraw provided they give a year’s notice.
There are strict rules on promotions, advertising, and a prohibition on in-game betting in sports. But for online casino in Germany, the toughest restrictions are to a €1 per spin limit on slots and a five-second average spin speed.
As for table games, they’re being dealt with separately in order to grant states the option of maintaining a monopoly for their lotteries, so the decision comes down to each individual state’s discretion.
Another major factor affecting online casino in Germany is the tax rate. The rate of taxation for online slots and poker has been set at 5.3 per cent of turnover.
Many gambling operators say that will make their offering uncompetitive because of the impact on player returns. There are fears it may mean that those looking for gambling in Germany turn to unlicensed operators instead.
Germany had already introduced a transition regime for online gambling, under which operators already active in the market were allowed to officially offer their services provided they meet the requirements of the new legislation.
Criticism from operators of sports betting and online casino in Germany
The German gambling trade association DSWV maintains that reforms need to be made to the Interstate Treaty because the high tax rate on online poker and slot machines coupled with in-play betting restrictions on sports made the regulated market untenable.
Dahms said: “Because in the end only the black market profits from this, no other country in Europe taxes the stakes in virtual slot machine games, but always the gross gaming revenue – the actual revenue of the gaming provider
“In this way, Germany becomes a wrong-way driver in tax policy. We therefore appeal to the members of the Bundestag not to hastily wave through the draft of the racing betting and lottery law, but to deal with the issue in greater depth in the coming electoral term.
In an interview with Focus Gaming News, Maarten Haijer, Secretary General at the European Gaming and Betting Association raised doubts about how many operators would be interested in entering Germany’s licensed gaming market under the current conditions.
