Erlaubnis als Buchmacher beantragen

If you want to place or broker bets on public horse races as a bookmaker, you need a license.You can find out more about this here.

If you want to place or broker bets on public horse races on a commercial basis as a bookmaker, you need a license. The license is issued for

• the location where the bets are accepted or brokered,
• for you as the responsible bookmaker and
• for the persons you use to place and broker the bets.

The license may be granted subject to time limits and conditions. A security deposit must also be provided.

Bookmakers may, in the case of public performance tests for horses (horse races)

• conclude betting contracts independently in their own name and for their own account or
• arrange betting contracts for a totalizator or another bookmaker or
• conclude betting contracts in their own name but for the account of a third party.

The bets must be offered at fixed odds at the racecourse for the races taking place on the race day. Otherwise, the bookmaker is free to offer the bets at the totalisator price. As a bookmaker, you can be represented by employees (bookmaker's assistants) when brokering and concluding horse bets.

As bookmakers, they guarantee the payment of winnings. The portion of the betting income that is not paid out as winnings remains as a profit margin less taxes.

• Certificate of good conduct for submission to an authority (not older than three months) - for persons and corporations as applicants (e.g. GmbH) for persons authorized to manage the company
• Extract from the central trade register (not older than three months)
• Proof of at least two years of practical experience in the bookmaking industry as a bookmaker's assistant to a licensed bookmaker. Applicants can also provide proof of professional aptitude in another way, in which case a statement from the German Bookmakers' Association must be obtained.
• Proof of equity capital in the amount of EUR 25,000. Applicants must prove that this is not partly borrowed money or capital from a third-party partnership.
• Tax clearance certificate from the tax office responsible for the racing betting tax - in the case of persons and corporations as applicants, also for the persons authorized to manage the company,
• Tax clearance certificate from the tax office responsible for income tax or corporation tax
• Extract from the commercial register and shareholders' agreement for persons and corporations as applicants
• Floor plan of the betting shop and copy of the rental agreement (proof of ownership, if applicable) for this business premises
• Security deposit in the amount of EUR 2,500 per bookmaker's betting office and EUR 500 per bookmaker's assistant
• Social concept pursuant to Section 2 (5) and Section 6 GlüStV
• If applicable, proof of training of the bookmaker's assistants (e.g. through corresponding certificates of attendance), in particular with regard to the requirements pursuant to Section 4 (3) and Section 7 GlüStV

You must be able to demonstrate at least two years of practical experience in the bookmaking industry as a bookmaker's assistant with a licensed bookmaker.

Rhe fees are based on the respective administrative fee schedule of the federal state or on the fee statutes of the authorities responsible under federal state law.

• You apply for a bookmaker's license from the competent authority in whose district the activity is to be carried out.
• Your application will be reviewed by the competent authority.
• If there are no grounds for refusal and you meet all the requirements, you will receive a permit and a certificate once the procedure has been completed.

The permit can be issued with a time limit or a reservation of revocation or with a condition or a reservation of subsequent inclusion, amendment or supplementation of a condition. It can also be limited to individual events.

If the documents are complete, your application will be processed promptly.

Limited period of validity of the permit

The following information is available:

In the case of applications for the granting of a bookmaker's license, further investigations may be carried out with regard to reliability (e.g. involvement of the district police authority, the German Bookmakers' Association and the Directorate for Thoroughbred Breeding and Racing e. V.)

Administrative court action

• Bookmaker's license
• Anyone wishing to place or broker bets on public horse races on a commercial basis as a bookmaker requires a license
• Permits are issued for a limited period and can be restricted or revoked
• Responsible: Depends on the respective state law