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The Best Schleswig Holstein Licensed Online Casino

kay jones
Written By Kay Jones

If you know a thing or two about casino licenses, then you’ll understand that this is a tricky jurisdiction. In fact, the number of Schleswig-Holstein licensed casinos online is limited. What’s more, gambling sites with this license bear a rocky past and an equally unstable future. All this said, the region is notorious for opening up the doors to online gambling in Germany and it’s not going down with a fight. Read on as we reveal everything there is to know about the subject.

Top 5 Online Casinos with a Schleswig-Holstein License

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Welcome Bonus - UK Deposit and Wager £10, Get 100 Free Spins
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New customers only. 18+. Opt-in required. This offer is valid for selected customers only. 100 Bonus Spins on Assassin Moon, Big Boom Riches, Arena of Gold and Aliya's Wishes after first deposit and wager of £10+. 30x bonus wagering applies as do weighting requirements. Debit Card deposits only. This offer is valid 7 days from when your new account being registered. Irregular gameplay may invalidate your bonus. BeGambleAware.org. Bet The Responsible Way. #ad
Bonus Details
Welcome Bonus - Deposit and Wager £10, Get 100 Free Spins ● This offer is only available to new customers at Betway Casino who reside in UK. ● To qualify for this offer, you must tick the box 'I wish to receive the Welcome Bonus and accept the Terms and Conditions during the registration process. ● Deposit and wager at least £10 using a debit card or Paypal, within 7 days of registering a new account to receive the bonus. ● Once you have started to wager, you must wager the full £10 in a 24 hour period to qualify for the Bonus Spins. ● Bonus Spins can be used on Assassin Moon, Big Boom Riches, Arena of Gold and Aliya's Wishes and are worth £0.10 per spin. ● The spins will be credited to your account, once you meet deposit and wagering requirements. ● The Bonus spins will expire 7 days after you are awarded them. ● All winnings won as a result of play using the Bonus Spins will be credited to the Casino Bonus Account and are subject to 30x wagering requirements. ● Max £7.50 stake limit per spin on slot games with the welcome bonus. The games listed below will have a maximum stake limit of £1 – Beautiful Bones, Cool Buck – 5 reel slot, Magic of Sahara, Macho Man – Village People, Scrooge, Zombie Hoard, Castle Builder, Castle Builder 2, Le Kaffee Bar, Peek a Boo, Stardust and Scarab. ● Game Weighting applies. ● 18+, New Players Only, Full Terms Apply. ● Gamble Responsibly - begambleaware.org. Wagering Requirements: Slots - 30x #ad
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Licences
United Kingdom, Malta, Schleswig-Holstein
thomas williams Reviewed by Thomas
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Welcome Bonus Wager £10, Win up to 500 Free Spins
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18+ New customers only. Opt in, deposit and wager £10 on selected games within 7 days of opening new account. Return to Offers page to spin the wheel and win Free Spins, no wagering, or Slots Bonuses, up to 40x wagering, max redeemable from slots bonus £500, bonuses expire in 7 days. Card payments only. T&Cs apply. begambleaware.org | Please Gamble Responsibly. #ad
Bonus Details
Spin the Wheel to Win up to 500 Free Spins ● 18+, New players only. ● To claim this bonus you must deposit, opt in and wager £10 on selected games within 7 days of opening a new account. ● Deposit and Wager £10 on any of our Casino & Live Casino games except for Aviator and Baccarat (all versions). ● Spin the Wheel to win a prize. ● Prizes consist of Free Spins and Slots Bonuses. ● Spinning the wheel will result in you winning one of the following prizes: 500 Free Spins, 300 Free Spins, 200 Free Spins, £50 Slots Bonus, £40 Slots Bonus, £30 Slots Bonus. ● Free Spins can be played on our Big Bass Bonanza slot: Any winnings you receive will be credited into your cash withdrawable balance.  Each spin is valued at 10p and expires 7 days after being credited if not used. ● Slots Bonus: Can be used on any of our Slots except for the Excluded Slots listed at the bottom of the terms. This bonus is subject to 40x wagering requirements and will expire after 7 days if not used or wagered. The maximum amount you can redeem from this bonus is £500. ● Each customer is only eligible to receive one Welcome Offer across sports and casino offers, regardless of whether they open additional accounts with BetVictor, Parimatch or any other BV Gaming brand. ● Gamble Responsibly - begambleaware.org. Full terms apply. Wagering Requirements: Slots - 40 x Bonus #ad
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Licences
United Kingdom, Gibraltar, Schleswig-Holstein
thomas williams Reviewed by Thomas
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Welcome Bonus - Live Casino 150% up to ₹20000
Claim Bonus
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Bonus Terms and Conditions
Bonus Details
Live Casino Welcome Bonus: 150% up to ₹20,000 - Use Bonus Code: CRICLIVE ● Offer subject to country restrictions. ● The minimum qualifying deposit for this promotion is ₹1000. ● The rollover requirement for the bonus is forty (40) times the deposit and bonus amount. ● The rollover requirements must be met within 15 days of claiming a bonus. ● The bonus is subject to game weighting. ● 18+, New Players Only. Wagering Requirements Live Dealer Blackjack - 200 x Bonus + Deposit, Live Dealer Roulette - 200 x Bonus + Deposit #ad
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visa mastercard ecopayz visa electron visa debit bitcoin bank transfer
Licences
Curacao
kay jones Reviewed by Kay
  • slots-icon Huge range of software providers
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Welcome Bonus - UK 121% up to £100
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18+. New players only. Min deposit £10. Bonus funds are 121% up to £100. Bonus funds are separate to cash funds and subject to 35x wagering requirement. Only bonus funds count towards wagering contribution. £5 bonus max bet. Bonus funds must be used within 30 days, spins within 10 days. Affordability checks apply. Terms Apply. BeGambleAware.org #ad
Bonus Details
Welcome Bonus of 121% up to £100. ● The minimum qualifying deposit is £10. ● The maximum bet limit is £5. ● The wagering requirements are 35x the bonus amount. ● The bonus funds must used within 30 days. Any unused bonus is removed, including winnings. ● Deposits made with Skrill and/or Neteller do not qualify for this bonus offer. ● 18+, New Players Only. Gamble Responsibly. - www.begambleaware.org ● All bonuses are subject to the 21 Casino T&C. Wagering Requirements Keno - 35 x Bonus #ad
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bank wire entropay visa mastercard giropay interac maestro sofort trustly boku
Licences
United Kingdom, Malta
thomas williams Reviewed by Thomas

Online gambling used to be unregulated in Germany. Players were able to sign-up to casinos licensed in any jurisdiction including Malta. That all changed in 2008 with the Interstate Treaty on Gambling (or ISTG) being drawn up. Under this treaty, all gambling activities apart from sports betting were banned. At the time, the rule was passed in all states across the country. It only took Schleswig-Holstein a few years to realise that the jurisdiction was destined for big things in the world of online casinos.

2012 saw the state opt-out of the treaty and actual start to issue casino licenses. This was the start of everything for the region. In our next section, we’ll start to unravel the bumpy path that was in store for Schleswig-Holstein casinos online.

casinos with a schleswig holstein license

History of Schleswig-Holstein Licensed Gambling

As mentioned previously, 2012 was a real game-changer for Schleswig-Holstein. The region introduced its own Gambling Act and granted almost 50 licenses for casinos and sportsbooks. One of the most notorious casino sites to become licensed at the time was 888. At the time all casino licenses granted would remain valid for 6 years. A year later, the act was revoked however license holders were able to continue operating until their expiration date.

Technically, things should have been set to end in 2019. Gambling in Germany generates billions of euros each year. It comes as no surprise that the state looked to regulate online gambling once again. 2018 saw an agreement being drawn up for sports betting and in 2019 a similar law was passed to extend casino licenses granted in 2012. Revalidated licences are now valid until the 30th of June 2021. All this said we wouldn’t be surprised if the region looked into issuing new licenses before then.

history of schleswig holstein gaming license

Schleswig-Holstein Vs Interstate Treaty on Gambling – The Clash of the Titans

In case you haven’t realised by now, online gambling in Germany is a bit of a grey area. 15 states follow the laws set out by the Interstate Treaty on Gambling. Under these regulations, online gaming is banned, with the exception of sportsbooks online. Previously, the treaty also set a limit on the number of sports betting licenses granted. Following criticism by the European Union, this cap was removed completely. License holders under this act must pay 5% of their turnover in taxes.

The issue with this treaty is that in practice one of the states, Schleswig-Holstein does not abide by the rules. This jurisdiction actually has its own Gambling Act in place. Current Minister for Home Affairs in the state believes that it is safer to regulate gambling. This is because that way authorities can ensure the environment is safe and fair. Banning it completely will only lead to the growth of black-market casinos.

Initially, having two separate Gambling acts in one country caused a lot of havoc. It was believed that it went against the constitution. This was later given the green light by the EU and the country continues to operate in this manner.

Schleswig-Holstein’s Gambling Act

The Schleswig Holstein Gambling Act was set up to be as closely in line with the IGT as possible. The aims of this were to protect both operator and player alike by promoting game fairness and anti-money laundering techniques as well as other security measures. The rules also apply to software providers. Gambling activities regulated under this act include lotteries, casinos (online and land-based) as well as betting.

At the time, two types of licenses were being granted:

  • organizing license (for events)
  • distribution license (for sales)

Although it is no longer possible to apply for a license in this jurisdiction any longer, licensees must continue to live up to certain criteria.

schleswig holstein gambling requirements

Schleswig Holstein Gaming License Requirements

  • Must be registered in the EU or EEA
  • For distribution licenses, bank guarantees must be at least €1 million
  • Must comply with tax obligations (20%)
  • Payment of the license is decided at a later date
  • Strategic business plan
  • Responsible gaming plan of action

As mentioned previously, applicants would have needed to fulfil the criteria above before being granted a gaming license. Having said this, the authorities at the time handled things following a case by case approach. They would also analyse the operator to ensure that they were both financially and mentally stable. The state focused heavily on responsible gaming and we are about to find out more about this in the next section.

Protection of Player’s Rights

Schleswig-Holstein has always had the players intentions at heart. This is in fact the reason that they attempted to regulate online gambling in the first place. This at least would enable some control over the sector and limit abuse in black market casinos. All casino sites under this license must abide by strict regulations when it comes to the protection of players. The first two acts in the jurisdiction’s gambling laws actually focus entirely on responsible gaming. Below is a list of some of the measures licensed casinos must have in place.

  • Dynamic approach to gambling addiction
  • Protection of minors
  • Fair gaming approach
  • Player credit storage
  • Anti-money-laundering techniques
  • Moderate advertising

The license is aimed at protecting against criminal acts related to online gaming. To ensure that all casinos online adhere to regulations, the Ministry of Interior Affairs actually issues biannual reports regarding this matter.

Online Gaming Software in Schleswig-Holstein Casinos – The Fall of Novomatic

Online gambling in Germany underwent a great deal of turmoil over the years. We have already looked into this in great depth. Unfortunately, this instability had negative repercussions on other companies in the industry. Previously, Novomatic was huge at Schleswig-Holstein licensed casinos online. No one can forget the great success of classic slot game ‘Book of Ra’ which built a massive hype amongst German players. Merkur was another big game provider to pull out at the time.

Luckily there are still great game providers at casinos with this license. Play’n GO for instance is now available to play online in Germany. Moreover, their slot game ‘Book of Dead’ plays on the same Ancient Egyptian theme as the old favourite.

In spite of Novomatic’s exit, live dealer games by are also an option at casinos with a Schleswig-Holstein license. What’s more, alternative providers like Evolution Gaming has one of the best live casinos out there.

Schleswig-Holstein Casinos – the End or a New Beginning?

Perhaps the million-dollar question that everyone is asking is what the future has in store for casinos licensed in this German jurisdiction. There has been so much unrest over the years that it is hard to predict whether these online casinos will be allowed to continue to operate. In fact, had we written this page a few years ago, we would have predicted licensed casinos reaching their end.

Technically come mid-2021, all Schleswig-Holstein licensed casinos are set to expire. We don’t foresee another extension happening due to the fact that this has been the case for a few years running now. The Minister for Home Affairs has however stated their intentions to continue to regulate online gambling. Minister Grote is hoping to reach out to the other 15 states and find a solution for the entire country. It has been hard to come to agreements in the past so negotiating terms this time round definitely won’t come easy. Given the millions of euros that this industry generates for the country each year as well as the risks of the rise of black-market gambling though, we are sure that this is not the end for online casinos licensed in Germany.

Schleswig-Holstein Licensed Casinos FAQ

How can I apply for a Schleswig-Holstein gaming license? chevron-down-icon
Unfortunately, it is no longer possible to apply for an online casino license in this jurisdiction. The state handed out over 20 licenses back in 2012 but this ended a year later. License holders at the time were allowed to continue to operate until the expiration date. This was later extended to June 2021.
Is it safe to play at Schleswig Holstein gambling sites online? chevron-down-icon
Yes. All online casinos licensed in this jurisdiction have to abide by strict regulations. This includes game fairness, responsible gambling and anti-money laundering. The Minister of Interior Affairs issues biannual reports to ensure the protection of players. With such a small number of licensed casinos, it is easy to monitor things when compared to larger jurisdictions.

Other Schleswig-Holstein Casinos

Now we've talked you through all the best Schleswig-Holstein licensed casinos available, you should be able to make an informed choice about which one is the best option for your needs.

For the full picture though, here is a look at all the casinos we've reviewed that retain this license, either as their primary one, or as part of a group of licences that allow them to operate online.

Meet the Author
As a trained journalist, I enjoy uncovering the hidden details of slot games and casino sites. Whether this means digging deep into an operator's terms and conditions, or into the reputation of a games provider, I've got you covered. You can count on my reviews to give you facts and figures, but I also know what makes for a fun and engaging experience! Overall, my job is to help you find a casino site or game that suits not only your budget and playing style, but your personality too.