250 gaming halls in Lower Saxony face closure by 2026—can a last-minute push save them?

Time is running out for 250 gaming halls—and the 3,000 workers who depend on them. Will a political lifeline arrive before the December 2025 deadline?

, and Administrator

2025 December 6 . 7:02 AM

1 min read

In this picture I can see there are cars and there is a building here on the right side and there... — In this picture I can see there are cars and there is a building here on the right side and there are some banners here on to right.

Why many gaming halls are hoping for a 'Christmas miracle' - 250 gaming halls in Lower Saxony face closure by 2026—can a last-minute push save them?

The issue centres on Lower Saxony’s Arcade Law, which banned dual arcades—venues offering both amusement and gambling machines. A five-year transition period allowed existing businesses to adapt, but that grace period ends in December 2025. The Ministry of Economic Affairs insists operators have had enough time to comply, adding that reapplying for dual-operation licences is no longer possible.

If no solution is found, the law will force closures by 2026. This could push gambling into the black market, according to industry warnings. For now, the fate of 250 gaming halls and thousands of indeed jobs rests on political decisions in the coming months.