Berlin: Gaming arcades' shutdowns postponed
Since August, a regulation in Berlin known as the "minimum distance rule" for amusement arcades has been enforced. Although it's in place, progress towards fully implementing it is relatively sluggish. This is due to complex inspections in various districts and objections from operators.
When it comes to casinos in Germany, Berlin has particularly stringent rules. A minimum distance of 200 meters needs to be maintained between them and secondary schools, and the nearest arcade must be at least 500 meters far. Most federal states have similar regulations but sometimes allow higher operating densities. So far, around 70 establishments in Berlin have had their licenses denied, and they've challenged these decisions. Berlin's next steps also depend on the results of these cases - whether other businesses will continue to operate or be closed (which has been a controversial decision).
Apart from legal disputes, the city is also facing practical challenges. The exact distances needed between the arcades and other locations need to be determined. This is being handled by the Berlin-Brandenburg Statistical Office. First, they're investigating within districts and then across borders. The aim is to reduce complaints from businesses that might be affected by closures. However, this lengthy process is delaying the implementation of the current law, which was initially meant to be complete by the end of 2016. Realistically, though, it's more likely to take until 2019.
Future of closures unclear
The reason for the minimum distance law in Berlin is its high concentration of amusement arcades. In 2010, over 600 of these establishments were reported, but now, it's estimated there are around 500. Districts like Neukölln, Wedding, Tempelhof, and Marzahn-Hellersdorf have disproportionately high numbers of gaming arcades. The aim is to improve player protection and beautify the cityscape.
The operators weren't caught off-guard - they had a five-year grace period before the rules came into effect. Still, not many are willing to close voluntarily. The Berlin Senate Administration is performing additional checks to determine whether businesses can lose their licenses. They're evaluating social concepts, insolvency records, tax documents, and police clearance certificates to decide. But many operators have already replaced managers with criminal records as a precaution, making these establishments seem more above-board to the authorities. It's thus unclear how many arcades will actually be shut down in Berlin, despite the regulations. The courts can expect many appeal hearings.
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Source: www.onlinecasinosdeutschland.com
