Germany caps deposits at 1000 euro a month across every licensed operator, not per site. Here is how the system works and why deposits fail.
LUGAS stands for Länderübergreifendes Glücksspielaufsichtssystem, the cross-state gambling supervision system operated by the Gemeinsame Glücksspielbehörde der Länder, the GGL. It runs under the Interstate Treaty on Gambling 2021.
LUGAS holds two central files. The Limitdatei enforces the cross-operator deposit limit. The Aktivitätsdatei prevents a player from gambling at more than one licensed operator at the same time.
The deposit limit is set by section 6c of the Interstate Treaty. Players may deposit no more than 1000 euro in total in a calendar month across every operator licensed in Germany. The cap is not per operator. Depositing 400 euro at one site leaves 600 euro across all others that month.
LUGAS records deposits and activity status. The GGL describes the central files as monitoring the deposit limit and preventing parallel play. They do not record which games are played, individual bets, or wins and losses. Player data in the central files is held under a pseudonym, and the authority does not hold the name behind it.
Responsibility for blocking a deposit sits with the operator, not with the GGL. The authority cannot set or change your limit for you.
A higher limit is granted by the operator, never by the GGL, and only where the operator holds permission to grant one. There is no right to a higher limit and the operator decides alone.
Two conditions apply. The player must show no signs of problem gambling under the operator's automated early detection system. The player must also demonstrate sufficient financial capacity in a verifiable form, for example a tax assessment, other proof of income or bank statements. A self-declaration is not enough.
The GGL publishes ceilings. A raised limit may run up to 10000 euro a month. A limit above 10000 euro and up to 30000 euro is permitted for no more than 1 percent of an operator's active players, measured against the average number of active players over the previous three months.
The activity file blocks play at more than one licensed operator at a time. Before you start playing you are set to active in the central files. If another operator already has you active, the next operator must refuse. An operator must set you inactive on request, or 30 minutes after your last input.
A panic button must be visible on the gaming page at every licensed operator. Pressing it locks you out for 24 hours and the lock lifts on its own.
OASIS is Germany's national self-exclusion register. It is a separate system from LUGAS, administered under section 8d of the Interstate Treaty. Self-exclusion runs for a minimum of three months and third-party exclusion for 12 months, both free of charge.
Virtual slot machines carry their own rules. Each spin must be started manually, at least five seconds must pass between spins, and after 60 minutes of continuous play the player must confirm a notice and then wait five minutes before playing again.
The maximum stake for virtual slots is 1 euro per spin as the general rule. With effect from 1 July 2026 the GGL allows a stepped departure from that rule, up to a maximum of 5 euro. Stakes above 1 euro are limited to players aged 21 and over. The first step allows up to 3 euro. The second step allows up to 5 euro and requires at least 90 days of play showing no signs of problem gambling, plus specific ongoing monitoring by the operator. Offering higher stakes is voluntary for operators and requires GGL permission. The arrangement is time limited to 31 December 2027.
| Control | Limit | Applies across | Who enforces it |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monthly deposit limit | 1000 euro baseline per calendar month | All operators licensed in Germany | The operator, using LUGAS data |
| Parallel play | One licensed operator at a time | All operators licensed in Germany | The operator, using LUGAS data |
| Inactive status | On request, or 30 minutes after last input | The operator you are playing at | The operator |
| Panic button | 24 hour exclusion from play | The operator you are playing at | The operator |
OASIS is Germany's national self-exclusion register and operates separately from LUGAS.
Across all of them. The 1000 euro monthly cap applies to your total deposits at every operator licensed in Germany, not to each operator separately.
Because the limit counts deposits made at every licensed operator, and failed deposits count too. The casino you are using cannot see what you deposited elsewhere, so the remaining balance it displays can be wrong. The limit resets on the first day of the month.
No. The central files monitor deposits against your cross-operator limit and your active status to prevent parallel play. They do not record which games you play, your individual bets, or your wins and losses, and your data is held under a pseudonym.
Verified against 6 primary sources. Last reviewed August 29, 2026.