Staged Stake Limits for Virtual Slot Games (2026)
EUR 1 rule with a staged deviation to EUR 3 and EUR 5 from 1 July 2026
Last verified: 2026-09-20
From 1 July 2026 the GGL allows stakes of up to EUR 3 (players 21+) and EUR 5 (after 90 days without conspicuous play) on virtual slots, limited until 31 December 2027.
Staged stake limits for virtual slot games (2026)
Overview
The statutory maximum stake for a virtual slot game is EUR 1 per game. With effect from 1 July 2026 the GGL allows a staged deviation: up to EUR 3 per game for players aged 21 or over, and up to EUR 5 for players who also completed a 90-day qualification period without addiction-related conspicuous play and are subject to special monitoring. Offering higher stakes is voluntary for providers. The deviation rests on a decision guideline under § 22a Abs. 7 Satz 2 GlüStV 2021 adopted in June 2026, before the evaluation of the treaty was completed, and is limited until 31 December 2027.
Other slot rules are unchanged, including the 5-second minimum between games and the ban on automatic start.
Deposit-limit and maximum-stake FAQ, including the July 2026 change. [1]
Game-specific rules for virtual slot games. [2]
Key facts
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Verified
Virtual slot games must have at least 5 seconds between games, and every game must be started manually — automatic start is banned.
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Verified
The statutory maximum stake for a virtual slot game is EUR 1 per game (spin) (§ 22a Abs. 7 Satz 1 GlüStV 2021).
Gemeinsame Glücksspielbehörde der Länder (GGL), Gemeinsame Glücksspielbehörde der Länder (GGL)
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Verified
With effect from 1 July 2026, EUR 1 remains the rule but the GGL allows a staged deviation: up to EUR 3 per game for players aged 21 or over, and up to EUR 5 for players who also completed a 90-day qualification period without addiction-related conspicuous play and are subject to special monitoring; offering higher stakes is voluntary for providers.
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Verified
The staged stake deviation rests on a GGL decision guideline under § 22a Abs. 7 Satz 2 GlüStV 2021 adopted in June 2026, before the evaluation of the treaty was completed, and is limited until 31 December 2027.
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Unverified
Addiction-service bodies criticised the stake increase: the NRW state specialist office (Landesfachstelle Glücksspielsucht) says it raises the possible stake by up to 500% and notes that the share of addiction-help clients naming virtual slots as their main game rose from 6.4% in 2019 to 22.6% in 2024.
Sources
- Gemeinsame Glücksspielbehörde der Länder (GGL)Primary source — Einzahlungslimit und Höchsteinsatz (FAQ für Spielende) — https://www.gluecksspiel-behoerde.de/de/fuer-spielende/informationen-fuer-spielende-faqs/faq-einzahlungslimit-und-hoechsteinsatz
- Gemeinsame Glücksspielbehörde der Länder (GGL)Primary source — Konkrete Spielerschutzmaßnahmen für verschiedene Glücksspielarten — https://www.gluecksspiel-behoerde.de/de/fuer-spielende/die-spielerschutzmassnahmen-des-gluestv21-im-ueberblick/konkrete-spielerschutzmassnahmen-fuer-verschiedene-gluecksspielarten