GlüStV: How easy is it to increase the limit to €10,000 per month?

According to the Interstate Treaty on Gambling (GlüStV), the cross-provider deposit limit may not exceed 1,000 euros per month and player. Under certain conditions, however, it is possible to claim significantly higher limits for online gambling. However, there has now been criticism of the procedures for checking economic capacity in order to increase limits.

When we reported on the most annoying player protection regulations in German online casinos in November 2022, one of the topics was the monthly deposit limit of €1,000 across all providers. Under certain conditions, it is now possible to increase the standard limit to up to 10,000 euros per month. In particular, the Schufa-G procedure, which is intended to check the financial standing of the respective player, is used for this purpose. However, gamblers' rights activists are now warning that increasing the limit to 10,000 euros per month is far too easy in practice.

Increase cross-provider deposit limit with Schufa-G procedure

Section 6c GlüStV states that the "cross-provider deposit limit may not exceed 1,000 euros per month". However, exceptions are possible if there is no risk of gambling addiction and the player's financial capacity is ensured. In order to fulfill the latter requirement, the so-called Schufa-G procedure has been in use for some time. However, this only checks whether the player in question is in debt, has a good payment record or is in arrears with bills. Anyone wishing to increase their deposit limit must of course submit a corresponding application in advance, which will be checked.

Critics complain that the Schufa-G request is not suitable for actually being able to assess economic performance to the required extent. After all, being allowed to deposit up to 10,000 euros (!) per month in German online casinos requires far above-average assets or income. The majority of the German population will not be able to afford to gamble away 1,000 euros a month in online casinos.

It is conceivable that the Schufa-G inquiry for a trainee with a monthly income of a good 1,000 euros would give the green light for this person to deposit up to 10,000 euros per month in German online casinos and, in the worst case, lose them. Last September, we at GambleJoe asked ourselves how well players are protected in licensed online casinos.

Other parameters such as bank statements or a current income tax assessment are said to be more suitable than the Schufa-G procedure. Pay slips may also be suitable under certain circumstances to prove financial standing.

Is it possible to set an even higher deposit limit than 10,000 euros per month?

Under even stricter conditions, it is in fact possible to set an even higher monthly deposit limit than 10,000 euros per player. The corresponding decision-making guideline can be found in Section 6c Paragraph A Sentence 3 GlüStV, which states, among other things, that a "different amount may be setunder certain circumstances". This refers to a provider-independent deposit limit of up to 30,000 euros per month. However, this exorbitantly high limit may only apply to a maximum of 1% of all players. Of course, an increased deposit limit can also be reduced again if, for example, it becomes apparent that the respective user is not using the higher limit responsibly.

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