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How Casino Payments Work at GGL-Licensed Operators: Giropay Is Discontinued
If you have seen Giropay listed as a payment option at a German-facing casino recently, that reference is outdated. Giropay, the payment system run by German banks and savings banks, was shut down at the end of 2024. This page explains what happened to Giropay and how newer payment options such as Wero fit into Germany’s current payment landscape.
Giropay Is Discontinued — Wero Is Part of the New Payment Landscape
Giropay is no longer available as a payment system. Wero, developed by the European Payments Initiative (EPI), is part of the newer European payment infrastructure being rolled out in Germany. Wero launched in Germany in 2024, initially for account-to-account payments, and online payments have since been introduced progressively. Wero currently supports online payments in Germany, but availability depends on whether the individual merchant offers it — there is no single one-for-one Giropay replacement. Treat any casino still listing Giropay as a current payment option as showing outdated information.
The LUGAS Cross-Operator Limit Applies Across Payment Methods
Germany’s LUGAS system enforces a standard cross-operator deposit limit of €1,000 per calendar month across every participating GGL-licensed operator combined, regardless of which specific payment method you use — the limit tracks the player, not the payment rail. This is not an absolute ceiling, though: under GlüStV 2021 (§6c and §22a), players can apply for an increase up to €10,000 per month, provided they show no signs of gambling-addiction risk and sufficient economic capacity, verified through an automated early-detection system the operator must run. A further exception tier, from just over €10,000 up to €30,000, is available, but restricted to no more than 1% of a given operator’s active players, based on that operator’s trailing three-month average. Any increase takes effect only after a mandatory seven-day waiting period, while a reduction to the standard limit takes effect immediately.
PayPal Has Its Own Gambling Policy
PayPal availability is determined separately from German gambling licensing. PayPal permits gambling transactions only where its own requirements for authorised gambling merchants are met, and otherwise restricts gambling-related transactions under its terms of service — a policy layered on top of German regulatory requirements, not a substitute for them. As a result, PayPal availability at a particular casino does not by itself prove that the operator holds a German gambling authorisation. Check the operator against the GGL’s official whitelist independently — the GGL itself advises players to do exactly this, since illegal gambling sites can appear legitimate.