Theatre closures mandated by Bremen Senate, FDP raised concerns
The new distance regulations for gaming halls in Bremen, which came into effect on July 1, 2023, have sparked much debate. The Bremen Senate, in its bid to reduce gambling-related damages, is hoping for a positive outcome, but is also aware that the drastic reduction in gaming halls may have unforeseen consequences, such as outmigration from the state, which cannot be predicted at this time.
The Senate has yet to determine the exact number of gaming halls that will have to close due to these regulations. In Bremenhaven, only 8 out of 29 gaming halls are currently allowed to continue operating. Around 75 percent of all gaming halls in the state are expected to close, with the last concessions of non-compliant gaming halls expiring by January 2027.
The federal state of Bremen is considering closing three out of four gaming halls due to the new minimum distance regulations. As of February 2024, there were 125 gaming halls in Bremen, with an estimated 25-29 remaining.
The Bremen Senate views the shortage of supply as a successful preventive policy for combating gambling addiction. They expect fewer people to play, a decrease in the demand for treatment, and a decrease in the number of problematic gamblers. However, the impact on employment in the service sector, particularly mini-jobs, is expected to be significant.
In 2023, the state of Bremen collected around 14.5 million euros in amusement tax. The closure of gaming halls is expected to result in lower tax revenues for the state. The exact extent of this loss is yet to be determined, with the Senate expecting it to depend on the gaming revenue or the number of machines.
In 2023, preliminary figures show that 126 people with their own gambling problem in the state of Bremen sought help from counseling centres, with 118 being men and 8 being women.
On February 13, the FDP addressed questions about the minimum distance for Bremen gaming halls to the Bremen Senate. The Senate's response indicated that more detailed figures, such as the exact amount of tax revenue losses, employment impact, or measurable changes to gambling addiction rates, would be available from official reports or local government statements.
For those interested in the latest detailed figures, I can help look for more specialized local news sources, official Bremen government releases, or industry analyses.
- The debate about the new online casinos in Germany, particularly in Bremen, has been influenced by the Senate's policy on casino-and-gambling, as the distance regulations for gaming halls are expected to affect a significant number of casino-games.
- The upcoming closure of 75 percent of all gaming halls in Bremen due to the distance regulations has sparked concerns about the impact on casino-culture and responsible-gambling trends within the state.
- The introduction of these stringent distance regulations for gaming halls is also part of the broader discussion of politics and policy-and-legislation surrounding casino-games and gambling-trends.
- As the number of operating gaming halls decreases, general-news outlets are expected to report on the potential unforeseen consequences, such as changes in tax revenues and employment rates, and the success of the preventive policy in addressing gambling addiction.
