Environment, Climate, Energy and Agriculture Authority

Apply for bookmaker permission

If you, as a bookmaker, would like to place or arrange bets on public horse races, you must apply for permission in advance.

Detailed description

If you want to place or arrange bets on public horse performance tests as a bookmaker on a commercial basis, you need a permit.



Permission is granted for

  • the location where bets are accepted or placed and
  • the persons you use to place and arrange bets.

Bookmakers can

  • independently conclude betting contracts in their own name and for their own account in public performance tests for horses (e.g. horse racing) or
  • arrange betting contracts for a totalizator or other bookmaker or
  • conclude betting contracts in one’s own name but on behalf of others.

The bets must be offered at fixed odds on the race track for the races taking place on the race day. Otherwise, the bookmaker is free to offer the bets at the totalisator rate.



As a bookmaker, you can have employees (bookmaker assistants) represent you in the exercise of the bookmaking business when arranging and concluding horse bets.

 

Information

Prerequisites

  • You have proven that you have the necessary personnel reliability.
  • They have proven to have the necessary economic performance and reliability.
  • You have proven that you have the necessary professional skills and experience.
  • You have proven that you have the necessary commercial knowledge.

Documents required

  • Informal, written application for a bookmaking license
  • Form “Attachments to the application for a bookmaker’s license” including the evidence and documents specified therein.

Please note

According to the form “Attachment of the application for the issuance of a bookmaker’s license” the following information must be provided with the application:

  • Personal Data
  • Presentation of police clearance certificate
  • Certificate of clearance from the tax office and the building inspectorate
  • Certificate of freedom from tax debts
  • Extract from the debtor register
  • Proof of working capital of at least EUR 25,000
  • Proof of expertise
  • Passport photos
  • Rental agreement, site plan and area allocation plan for the location where the bookmaking business is to be carried out as well as information on other commercial activities that may be carried out at this location
  • Business registration
  • List of totalizers and bookmakers to whom referrals are made
  • Decision-relevant information on organizing horse betting (what is organized by whom, what types of bets are offered, betting program, limits)
  • When applying for an extension of the permit: List of sales from the last three years
  • Proof of security provided
  • Social concept, explanation of how the protection of minors should be ensured
  • Participation and general terms and conditions
  • For companies: extract from the commercial register and partnership agreement

The necessary regulatory, commercial and building permits and permits are not covered by the bookmaker license and must be applied for from other authorities.


Permission can be granted with time limits, conditions and a reserved right of withdrawal. It can also be limited to individual events.

Deadlines

No

Procedure

  • You submit your application to the responsible authority.
  • The responsible authority will examine your application.
  • The decision on your application will be communicated to you in writing.

Processing time

The processing time depends on the type and scope of the application as well as the quality of the documents submitted.

Fees

Permission for the public for a bookmaker and for a betting shop for one year each: EUR 500


for each additional betting office for the year: 80 EUR




Permission for a bookmaker and for a betting office for the people they want to use to place and arrange bets for one year each:


150 EUR




Permission for a bookmaker to place or arrange bets on a racetrack per day: EUR 25

Legal remedies

contradiction

Legal basis

§ 2 Racing Betting and Lotteries Act (RennwLottG)


www.gesetze-im-internet.de/rennwlottg_2021/__2.html

Forms and downloads

Address and contact information

Environment, Climate, Energy and Agriculture Authority

Agriculture

We have a limited number of customer parking spaces. To reserve a parking space, please contact our receptionist by e-mail at zugang@bsw.hamburg.de or by telephone on +49 40 428 40 - 50 50. Our working hours are: Monday to Thursday from 8:00 a.m. to 3:15 p.m , Friday from 8 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

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Keywords: Bookmaking permits Totalizator permits Company totalizator permits Horse racing horse race Harness racing Tote tax Company tote tax Betting agency permits Company betting agency permits Bookmaker Racing betting

Last updated: 06.02.2026