Online table games approved in Baden-Württemberg

According to the State Treaty on Gambling of 2021, online table games are generally permitted in Germany. However, regulation is not nationwide, as is the case with virtual machines, but is a matter for the federal states. This inconsistent solution has meant that roulette, blackjack and the like cannot be played online in many places to this day (at least not legally). Baden-Württemberg has recently become one of the few regions to approve such casino games. However, only from a state provider and, of course, only within the state borders.

Since 2021, the Interstate Treaty on Gambling (GlüStV) has been intended to provide clarity in the German iGaming market. But theory and practice - well, they are sometimes further apart than a roulette bet and a bull's eye on the right number. Especially when it comes to classic casino games such as blackjack or baccarat, the federal states have difficulties with licensing.

Baden-Württemberg is now following suit. According to the Ministry of the Interior, the main reason for this is that many unauthorized operators from abroad are accessible in the state (as everywhere else in Germany). To prevent players from being forced into questionable areas, the government wants to create a legal, controlled offering. As in Bavaria, this is to be based on a monopoly system, as this is the best way to guarantee player protection. According to official information, the state-owned Toto-Lotto GmbH will take over the management.

This step required an amendment to the state gambling law - which was approved by a majority in the Stuttgart state parliament at the end of February. It remains to be seen when exactly the online service will be launched. However, it shouldn't take too long. And where will the table games be available? There is no official information on this either. However, we already have a hunch. Oh, and of course there's no shortage of criticism. Here are all the details!

New law, new rules - what's in it?

The new provisions for online table games replace the section of the State Gambling Act that previously governed sports betting licenses, as these are now issued uniformly throughout Germany. It now explicitly allows the state itself to operate online casinos. There are a lot of details to read about this, which primarily concern the operator. Most of the regulations that are of interest to end customers relate to player protection.

Table games with similar regulation to online poker and slot machines

The legislator considers online table games to have a similar addictive potential to online poker and virtual machines. The law therefore interprets the protection mechanisms in a similar way.

1. Strict limits: To prevent excessive gambling, the maximum bet per round is limited to 1 euro. This maximum amount is intended to prevent players from accumulating large losses in a short period of time or exceeding their personal limit. In addition, there is the familiar deposit limit of 1,000 euros per month.
2. No algorithm trickery: There must be no mechanisms that deliberately adjust wins in order to entice players to gamble for longer. No secretly "lowering" the odds of winning or other unfair practices. Should actually be clear, but it is explicitly stated.
3. Simple comprehensibility: All games must include a clear explanation of their use. The law states the following: "Whether a game is easy to access and has an easily understandable description is to be decided by the authorities in the licensing procedure, taking into account the understanding of an average player."
4. Crystal-clear information on winning probabilities: Players must be able to see directly how high the chances of a win are. Example: In roulette, the probability of winning is 50 percent when betting on one color. Precise information should also be provided for more complex constellations.
5. Jackpot? No way: progressive jackpots that work with unpredictable multipliers are excluded. Wins must always be based on the bet placed and must be clearly traceable.
6. No auto-play function: Players must actively decide after each round whether and how they want to continue playing. Automatic repetition of bets is not permitted - not even with predefined stops.
7. Breaks for frequent players: After 60 minutes of play, a five-minute forced break is imposed. This applies regardless of whether someone has played continuously or has only been active once in the respective hour.

Games with a live atmosphere - but subject to conditions

To ensure that the offer remains attractive for players and does not lose out to illegal providers, Baden-Württemberg is allowed to broadcast live casino games - but only under certain conditions: For example, the roulette wheels must be checked regularly. Furthermore, only gambling venues within the EU are permitted as transmission locations in order to comply with important data protection standards.

With all these rules, the country wants to create a controlled alternative to illegal offers - without neglecting player protection. It remains to be seen whether the concept will work.

Critical voices doubt the usefulness of the project and the honorable motives of the policy

The biggest criticism of the new online table games in Baden-Württemberg does not - as one might expect - come from the corner of addiction prevention or from opponents of online gambling. Instead, it is mainly politicians and the media who are raising doubts.

► One of the main points of criticism is that the state offer may not be very attractive for typical casino fans. High rollers in particular are unlikely to be enthusiastic about the new tables. Why? Because the monthly deposit limit of 1,000 euros also applies here. Players who are used to betting significantly higher sums would theoretically have the option of raising the limit to 10,000 or even 30,000 euros - but only if they provide detailed financial proof. Most high-rollers are reluctant to do this, which raises the question of whether they should simply continue to switch to international offers. Back in the summer of 2024, we discussed whether the softening of the deposit limit in online casinos was sensible - now the topic is back on the table.

► The selection of games is also likely to disillusion many users. Anyone who is used to international online casinos knows that there are often hundreds of different roulette, blackjack and baccarat variants to play. In Baden-Württemberg, on the other hand, there is likely to be a slimmed-down version with just a few tables.

► Another hotly debated topic is taxes on table game revenues. According to the draft bill, the following rates apply:

• 15 percent on revenue up to 300,000 euros per month.
• 20 percent on income between 300,000 and 750,000 euros.
• 25 percent on income over 750,000 euros.

Critics note that tax revenues may fall far short of expectations because the offer simply does not attract enough players. Those who do not want a limited selection, deposit limits and little flexibility could simply continue to focus on unlicensed alternatives.

► And then there is the monopoly approach. The government argues that a state-owned company can best guarantee that player protection and the protection of minors are actually upheld. However, this argument has met with resistance. FDP MP Daniel Karrais sees a completely different motivation behind the monopoly strategy:

"I think the truth is that the monopoly solution for online gambling was chosen because the state can extract the maximum win there, which would not be the case if a concession were awarded."

Despite critical voices, Baden-Württemberg's move shows that the regulation of German online gambling continues to progress - the future will show whether this is a success or a cautionary tale.

Source of the image: https://pixabay.com/photos/game-bank-mission-token-place-1003137/

Central text sources: https://gamesundbusiness.de/baden-wuerttemberg-erlaubt-online-casino, https://igamingbusiness.com/gaming/gaming-regulation/german-state-of-baden-wurttemberg-approves-online-games/