Expert take: Mark Seibert on the future of German online casino

Mark, let’s start broadly. When you look at the market today, which trends define the world of online casinos?

Mark Seibert: The biggest story is mobility. We’re witnessing a radical shift to mobile gaming. Ten years ago, people sat down at their laptops for long sessions. Now, more than 80% of players in German online casinos use smartphones or tablets. That changes the rhythm entirely.

Mobile gaming is fast, uncomplicated, and frequent. That's why operators and affiliates such as us at www.onlinecasinosdeutschland.com, have redesigned everything: apps that load lightning fast, vertical gameplay for one hand, and clear user interfaces. The motto is simple: if the game takes longer than two seconds to start, the player is already lost.

That’s convenience. But what about deeper innovation, beyond design and speed?

Mark Seibert: This is where artificial intelligence comes in. The old model was “one-size-fits-all” - the same welcome bonus, the same promotions. Now AI tailors everything. It knows if you’re a slot enthusiast or a blackjack regular. It knows whether you log in after dinner or on your commute. From that, it generates personalised offers - free spins for one player, cashback for another.

But it’s not only about fun. AI also guards against harm. If someone suddenly deposits much more than usual or plays through the night, the system can intervene - issue warnings, cap limits, even enforce a break. In a market as tightly regulated as Germany, that dual role, entertainment and protection, is essential.

And regulation? Germany is famous for being strict. How does that shape the landscape?

Mark Seibert: It’s a double-edged sword. The 2021 Interstate Gambling Treaty created one of the strictest regimes in the world. Every player faces a €1,000 monthly deposit limit. There’s the OASIS exclusion system, where a German casino player can self-ban, or be banned, for protection. And the panic button locks you out instantly for 24 hours. Even advertising is tightly capped.

The upside? Safety. It’s nearly impossible to fall unchecked into serious gambling addiction here. The downside? Some players feel constrained, especially high rollers. Many drift to unlicensed offshore sites. For legal operators, the challenge is to remain appealing while staying inside very tight lines.

Technology often promises to break boundaries. What excites you most on that front?

Mark Seibert: Two things: immersive tech and gamification. VR is the holy grail. Imagine donning a headset and stepping into a glittering casino lobby. You hear laughter, chips clinking, the shuffle of cards. You walk to a poker table, nod to other avatars, join a hand. That’s social play reborn. No suit, no flight to Vegas, just pure immersion.

AR is a halfway point: you aim your phone at the kitchen table, and suddenly a live-dealt blackjack game materialises in your space. It makes the digital physical.

And then there’s gamification. Casinos now offer missions, ranks, badges - “play ten spins here, unlock a reward there.” It transforms gambling into a layered experience, with progression and competition, not just raw wagering.

Which ties into the social side of play, doesn’t it?

Mark Seibert: Exactly. That’s why live casinos are exploding. Picture professional dealers in a studio, streamed in HD, interacting with you via chat. It’s less lonely screen time, more social theatre. And this is only the beginning. We’re moving toward interactive formats - game shows, tournaments, hybrid experiences blending chance and entertainment. The casino of the future is as much about community as it is about winning.

Let’s talk money. Cryptocurrencies are everywhere. How do they fit in?

Mark Seibert: They’re transformative. With Bitcoin, Ethereum, Litecoin, transactions are nearly instant, fees are minimal and for players abroad the process is seamless. In some countries, the anonymity is an added draw - no gambling charges on your bank statement.

But what really excites me is blockchain transparency. Provably fair games let players verify every spin or card deal mathematically. It’s trust built into code. In Germany, regulators are cautious, so crypto hasn’t broken through yet. Globally though, it’s one of the hottest frontiers.

Another area is eSports. Are there any overlaps with online casinos in general?

Mark Seibert: Absolutely. eSports betting is surging. Millions follow tournaments in League of Legends, Counter-Strike, Dota 2. Betting there is as natural as backing your favourite football team.

What makes it unique is the granularity: not just who wins, but who gets the first kill, who captures the first objective, whether a match goes into overtime. Dozens of micro-bets per game. It’s fast, interactive and deeply engaging for digital-native audiences.

Looking ahead five or ten years - what’s on the horizon, especially for Germany?

Mark Seibert: I see three paths.

1. Technology: A fusion of gambling and immersive experiences. VR casinos becoming mainstream, AI-driven hyper-personalisation, perhaps even hybrid venues - physical casinos with virtual wings.
2. Regulation: Germany will keep balancing protection and freedom. Deposit limits might evolve into personalised safeguards, powered by AI.
3. Social & financial: Germany could relax its strict regulations. Crypto could gain a foothold if the rules are adjusted. And casinos could focus more on community engagement - live game shows, multiplayer tournaments, cooperative missions. The lone player at a laptop? That image will feel outdated.

And compared with other markets - where does Germany stand?

Mark Seibert: Germany is an outlier. The UK and Malta push innovation hard. Germany pushes regulation and safety. That can feel restrictive, but it creates stability. Fewer scams, clearer rules. The flip side is slower adoption of bleeding-edge tech. Yet players here enjoy some of the world’s strongest protections - and operators that thrive under these conditions often gain international respect. The future of casinos isn’t just about chance. It’s about how technology, regulation and community shape the way we play.

About the interviewee: Mark Seibert, the editor-in-chief of OnlineCasinosDeutschland.com, possesses profound expertise in the gambling sector, stemming from his mathematics degree and three years of experience as a croupier in Malta. His time there revealed the then-lack of clarity in the nascent online casino market, motivating him to found an information portal to bring transparency to the industry. What began as a modest project has since evolved into one of the most comprehensive German websites, with its primary objective being the objective comparison of providers through in-depth research. As editor-in-chief, he is responsible for the news section and extensively and credibly tests online casinos, highlighting their strengths and inherent weaknesses in both national and international contexts.