Rake and game offerings in Germany

Taxation laws for online gaming are different in Germany.

How does this affect cash games?

In Germany, cash game stakes and rake differ from those in other countries.

The highest stakes available are:

• No Limit Hold’em, Pot Limit Omaha, and other NL/PL games: €1/€2
• 6+ Hold’em: €2/€2
• Tempest: €1/€2.50/€5
• Fixed Limit Games: €3/€6

The cash game rake for players in Germany is approximately 25% higher than in other countries, for most No-Limit and Pot-Limit games. The rake is the same for Fixed Limit, 6+ Hold’em, and Tempest games.

Players in Germany are still able to play with players from around the world, but they pay a different rake when they win a pot. When a hand ends, we calculate the rake as usual, but an additional fee is applied if the winner is in Germany. This has no impact on the rake paid by players from other countries.

Other differences are:

• We have expanded our ‘Pool Block’ system to include all cash games for players based in Germany. The system is in place to prevent very short sessions at the cash game tables. Pool Block means that, after joining a table, you may have to play a minimum number of hands before you can leave without triggering a time penalty, during which you would be unable to rejoin cash games.
• GBP cash games have been removed.

How does this affect tournaments?

• For players in Germany, the highest Spin & Go stake available is €50.
• The vast majority of Turbo and Regular Speed Sit & Go’s are still available, but Heads Up Sit & Go's and most Satellites Sit & Go's are withdrawn from the schedule. Several Hyper-Turbo Sit & Go’s have also been removed from the offering.
• T€ Trade is disabled.