Process & practice
Customer card at the betting shop: benefits, use and player protection
The customer card at a Tipico betting shop is optional and tied to you personally. With it you bet without cash, see your credit and your bets, and set your own limits. Without a card you bet with cash, and the paper voucher is your only proof.
The voluntary customer card at the betting shop enables cashless betting, stores your bets on the account and allows player-protection limits. It is personal and only available on site in a Tipico betting shop.
What is a customer card and how do I get one?
The customer card is a personal card that you apply for at the betting shop and use to bet cashlessly. You get the card directly in the Tipico betting shop, not online or by post. You do not need ID for the first registration, but your account is verified with valid official ID before your first payout at the latest. The minimum age for registration is 18.
The betting card works much like a prepaid card: you load credit and use it for your bets. Winnings are credited to the card balance automatically. You don't need cash and can see your balance at any time.
How to apply for and activate the card is explained in our overview of the Tipico customer card.
Customer card or cash play: what are the card's benefits?
With the customer card, all your bets are stored on the card, you bet cashlessly and winnings go straight onto your credit. Without a customer card, you bet anonymously with cash and get a paper voucher as proof. If you lose it, you often can't prove a win, and you can't call up your betting history or balance.
The card changes that. You can view your bets at any time and don't have to keep a paper voucher.
- Cashless depositing and betting
- Winnings booked automatically onto your credit
- A view of your past bets and your balance
- The option to set up player-protection limits
- Easier tracking in many cases if you lose a voucher
Our guide to collecting your winnings at the betting shop shows you how to claim a payout.
How do I load my customer card with betting credit?
You usually load credit at the betting shop with cash at the till, and many shops also let you top up at the self-service terminal. Our guide to cash deposits at the betting shop explains exactly how this works.
Some shops also let you top up by bank transfer or card payment. The staff on site can tell you which options are available in your betting shop.
| Deposit method | Availability |
|---|---|
| Cash at the till | Standard in most shops |
| Cash at the self-service terminal | Depending on the shop's equipment |
| Debit or credit card | Depending on the shop |
| Bank transfer | Only at some shops, ask on site |
How does the customer card help with player protection?
With the customer card, you set up your own player-protection limits, such as how much you want to deposit or lose per day, week or month. Once you hit the limit, you can't place any more stakes until the period is over.
You can usually lower limits straight away, but you can only raise them after a reflection or cooling-off period. That way you don't lift a limit on a whim.
If you feel that sports betting is becoming a problem for you, take it seriously. You can also have yourself blocked. Our guide to self-exclusion at the betting shop explains how. The BZgA offers free, anonymous counselling on 0800 1372700.
With a customer card
- Player-protection limits adjustable
- All bets stored on the card
- Bet cashlessly
- Winnings credited automatically
- Self-exclusion easier to apply for
Without a customer card
- Anonymous cash betting possible
- Voucher as the only proof
- No limits adjustable
- No balance to check
- Win hard to prove if the voucher is lost
Differences in betting with and without a customer card (schematic).
Is the customer card linked to an online account?
No, at Tipico the customer card and the online account are two fully separate systems. There is no transfer of credit, no shared login, and the card cannot be stored as a payment method in the online account. Credit on the customer card stays usable in the shop only.
Our guide Betting shop vs online sports betting explains how bricks-and-mortar and online betting differ.
More from the Knowledge section
- Cash deposit at the betting shopHow you deposit cash and top up your betting credit.
- Applying for self-exclusion at the betting shopHow and where to set up a self-exclusion and what matters when you do.
- Gambling addiction: signs and helpWhen sports betting becomes a problem and where to find free counselling.
Sources and further information: BZgA: Federal Centre for Health Education, GlüStV 2021: First Interstate Treaty on Gambling
Frequently asked questions
Do I have to have a customer card at the betting shop?
No, the customer card is voluntary. In many betting shops, you bet anonymously with cash without registering, and the voucher is then your only proof. If you want to use limits, manage your credit or track winnings, the customer card is the right choice.
Can I set my own limits with the betting card?
Yes, that's one of the main advantages of the betting card. You set up deposit and loss limits that stop you spending more than you planned. You can usually lower limits straight away, but only raise them after a waiting period. Our guide to loss and deposit limits tells you more.
Is the customer card personal?
Yes, the customer card is tied to you personally. Before your first payout at the latest, your account is verified with valid official ID, which also confirms that you are at least 18 (21 in Bremen). You must not pass the card on or let other people use it.
Where can I find out more about my customer account?
Ask the staff in your betting shop. You'll find everything on applying, activation and features at Tipico customer card.
