The legal situation of online poker is notoriously murky in Germany. Although there are no laws expressly drawn up to prohibit the game, there are laws currently in place which can be stretched to cover the issue, and these laws are not in the tiniest bit favorable for Germans who contemplate the idea of making some money or even a living at the online poker tables. Still, there are scores of poker players in Germany braving the legal confusion to play online, especially because – as it currently appears to be – poker profits cannot be taxed in the country.
Which poker rooms are best for Germans to play at though?
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PokerStars is an obvious choice. The biggest and most solid online poker operation in existence, PokerStars accepts German players. The site is also home to some of the most attractive promotions and loyalty deals, and some of these offers are specifically Germany-aimed. At PokerStars, the tournament scene is through the roof and there are more than enough cash game players to provide challenge and fodder for one at just about any limit. Its sign-up bonus slightly over the industry average too, PokerStars is definitely THE top destination for German online poker players.
888poker is another major German online poker destination. The site also accepts German traffic and it has a more than decent player base as well as promotions which come coupled with an attractive sign-up bonus. The 888 brand has been aggressively growing lately, expanding into the newly regulated segments of the US market. The software is available in German too, and everything accounted for, it is a very German-friendly poker room indeed.
Winner Poker is yet another online poker room favored by German players. Winner Poker also has German language support and it accepts deposits and withdrawals in Euros. The sign-up bonus offered by the site may not be as generous as that of 888poker and PokerStars, but it is an attractive deal nonetheless.
All the above said sites support deposit and withdrawal options favored by German players too. For an online poker player based in Germany, making a deposit in Euros is easier than one would think. Most of the e-wallets can be accessed from Germany without problems and even credit cards can be used. The most popular deposit methods for Germans remain Neteller and Skrill (Moneybookers).
Online gambling (and all sorts of gambling in general falling outside of state monopoly) was outlawed in Germany in 2008. Three years after the passing of the controversial bill, the EU ruled that the said law was in breach of EU laws, as it denied other EU-based and licensed operators access to the German market.
The resulting legal situation is one of confusion, which still practically allows Germans to play online, and to use the whole available range of deposit/withdrawal methods.
