How Giropay Took Hold in Germany
Giropay started in 2006 as a Postbank project, at the time the retail banking arm of Deutsche Bank. The goal was simple to state and hard to deliver: online payments that are both secure and efficient. In its first year, users spent more than €100 million online with it. Today it handles over a million transactions a month for a customer base of 40 million.
For iGaming, Giropay’s appeal is its directness. Players do not open a separate account; they only need an account at a bank that works with Giropay, so they can deposit and start playing with almost no friction.
There is also no third party in the middle. The payment runs between the player and their own bank, which is safer and quicker, exactly what gamblers want when they top up. On top of that, each transaction is confirmed with a Transaction Authentication Number (TAN) generated in a mobile app or sent by SMS, reassurance that counts when large amounts are involved.
Giropay Milestones
2023
Active users pass 8 million.
2023
Transaction volume grows by 35%.
2024
Eventim.de introduces the digital girocard as a payment option for its customers.
2024
Giropay is built into the Esso Pay app, so drivers can pay for fuel at Esso stations.
Strengths and Drawbacks
Strengths
- Fast settlement
- Better safety and security
- Low fees
- No sign-up needed
Drawbacks
- Only available in Germany and Austria
- Cannot be used for withdrawals
How Players Deposit with Giropay
Giropay only supports casino deposits. The flow looks like this:
- The player picks a casino that offers Giropay.
- They fill in the registration form to open a casino account.
- In the cashier or banking area they click “Deposit”.
- They choose Giropay and enter the amount.
- They verify with their bank account number and security code, or with their Giropay login, or switch to a Girocard debit card instead.
- The casino then forwards them to Giropay’s secure payment page.
- They enter the details requested, usually including a TAN, and submit the payment.
Where Giropay Is Available
Giropay is aimed mainly at players in Germany, and at Austrian users through EPS transfers.
Funding Sources
Money comes directly from the player’s bank accounts, savings accounts included. The same organisation is behind Girocard, Germany’s most widely used debit card, with more than 100 million cards in circulation.
Supported Currencies
Euros are the only currency Giropay supports.
Why Operators Add Giropay
Giropay is one of Germany’s favourite bank transfer systems and brings real advantages to players and merchants. Three stand out.
Data Protection
Giropay sits between the casino and the player’s bank details, so players never type sensitive information into the operator’s payment form or wonder who can see it.
High Payment Limits
Single transactions of up to EUR 10,000 are possible, with full and partial refunds, which makes Giropay attractive to high rollers.
Eligible for Every Bonus
Casinos generally do not exclude Giropay from promotions the way they often exclude Skrill and Neteller, so players can claim welcome and reload deposit bonuses with it.
What Players Can Expect
Casinos targeting German players treat Giropay as a must-have because their customers are so used to it. As long as the bank account has funds, the deposit is taken from the savings or current account instantly and shows in the casino balance almost at once. Each payment is approved either with the player’s username and password, an option added after Giropay became part of paydirekt GmbH, or with a TAN, so only the account holder can spend the money.
Casinos rarely charge for Giropay payments, although the player’s bank might. No online account to open and no sensitive data shared with the operator: that combination has made Giropay a firm favourite in German-speaking markets.
Deposit and Withdrawal Limits
- Deposits
- Up to EUR 10,000
- Withdrawals
- N/A
Help and Support
Giropay’s support team works Monday to Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m., and from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. on weekends and public holidays. It can be reached by phone or by email at service@giropay.de.
Security and Fraud Protection
German financial and data protection law applies to Giropay, so sensitive personal data only ever passes between players and their banks. TAN confirmation and other safeguards ensure that only the account owner can access the money and send it through Giropay.
Regulation and Licensing
Giropay is run as a payment institution by paydirekt GmbH, which holds all the licences required by the German banking sector.
Giropay FAQ
How widely do online casinos accept Giropay?
Acceptance is concentrated in Germany and Austria, where a growing number of online casinos offer it.
Do players need a separate Giropay account?
No. An existing bank account works, provided the bank partners with Giropay.
How fast are Giropay deposits?
Instant, and players pay nothing extra to use it at a casino.
Are there limits on Giropay deposits?
Yes. Giropay sets a maximum per transaction, and each casino can apply its own limits on top, so players should check the cashier for the exact figures.
