# German legal rulings on unlicensed online gambling

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/german-legal-rulings-on-unlicensed-online-gambling
> Updated: 2026-10-02T07:16:34.000Z. Sources: 5. Developments: 2.

German courts are increasingly ruling on the legality of online gambling contracts and the subsequent right of players to reclaim losses from unlicensed operators.

In one instance, the Higher Regional Court of Hamm upheld a ruling requiring Betfair Casino Ltd. to refund approximately 41,000 euros to a player. The court determined that because online gambling was generally prohibited in Germany until June 30, 2021, the contracts were void, despite the operator holding a Maltese license.

Building on these legal precedents, the Federal Court of Justice (Bundesgerichtshof) is currently reviewing a case involving Tipico Games. A plaintiff is seeking roughly 10,000 euros in losses incurred between 2020 and 2022. The court must decide if players can demand refunds from casinos that lacked necessary German authorization, even if those companies held licenses in other jurisdictions like Malta.

## Timeline

### 2026-10-02: German court orders Betfair Casino Ltd. to refund gambling losses

Germany's Higher Regional Court of Hamm ruled that Betfair Casino Ltd. must refund 41,000 euros to a player because its online gambling services were prohibited in Germany at the time of play.

2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/german-court-orders-betfair-casino-ltd-to-refund-gambling-losses

### 2026-09-17: Bundesgerichtshof reviews claims for online gambling losses

The German Federal Court of Justice is deciding if players can reclaim losses from online casinos that operated without German licenses prior to the 2021 legalization.

4 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/bundesgerichtshof-reviews-claims-for-online-gambling-losses

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Cite as: German legal rulings on unlicensed online gambling. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/german-legal-rulings-on-unlicensed-online-gambling