GERMANY

CURRENCY: Deutche Mark (DM).

EXCHANGE RATE: DM 1.70 = US $1.

OFFICIAL LANGUAGE: German.

POPULATION: 78,000,000.

CAPITAL: Berlin.

INTERNATIONAL CODE: TELEPHONE 49.


CURRENCY CONTROLS: The Deutche Mark is a fully convertible currency of the European Monetary System and is freely imported and exported.

GAMING INFORMATION: Germany has a history of over 200 years of casino gaming.Both Baden-Baden and Wiesbaden offered casino games as early as the mid 18th century.In 1820 there were more than 20 casinos in operation, but they were closed during the years 1850-1900 and then again during WWII.Today, there are 38 casinos in 14 of the 16 German States.Ownership varies from fully state owned to private ownership.
The constitution of the German Federal Republic delegates casino licenses to the individual states.The license to operate a casino is generally granted by the Ministry of Internal Affairs of each state.State controllers are always present at the opening and closing of the casino to monitor that there are no irregularities.The Federal German system is one of the best in Europe.The casinos are controlled and pay taxes to the state on a daily basis.If taxes are not paid, the casino can not reopen until all taxes are paid.The tax rates are high and most casinos operate on small profit margins.
In Germany, like in many other European countries, the casinos are located in spa towns, or in popular tourist oriented centers.The word 'Bad' which precedes many of the locations names, means spa, or hot spring resort in German.The older casinos, like Baden-Baden, Wiesbaden, and Bad-Aachen, are famous for their elegant design and ambience.
Baden-Baden has a world class reputation as an excellent spa town, and its palatial style casino is one of the most beautiful casinos in Europe.In 1973 German law changed and allowed casinos to open in areas other than the traditional resorts.