Mannheim: Green Party urges shutdown of amusement arcades.
A faction from the Green party in Mannheim wants an explanation from the local government regarding the shutdown of amusement arcades. The rules issued in 2012 mandate certain distances between these arcades and youth facilities. Operators have been given a five-year leeway until June 30th to comply with these requirements. As of now, no arcades have been ordered to shut down.
Mannheim, a city of 300,000 people, has 55 amusement arcades. It's probable that only a few of these will have legal standing past July 1, 2017, following the stipulations in Section 42 of Baden-Württemberg's State Gambling Act:
(1) Gaming arcades must be at least 500 meters apart, as the crow flies.
(3) 500 meters as the crow flies, also between entrances, must be maintained away from existing facilities for children and young people.
Out of Mannheim's 55 amusement arcades, it's estimated that 50 fail to adhere to the distance regulation, thus becoming ineligible for approval. The Greens believe the administration is reluctant to enforce the law, even as the grace period for operators approaches its end on June 30th, no closure orders have been given. The party's representative in the municipal council, Nuran Tayanc, is urging the Mayor of the city, Christian Specht of the Christian Democratic Union, to take action:
"No more exceptions for the operation of arcades! [...] No arcades within 500 meters of schools and youth facilities and 500 meters between two arcades. This legal framework has been in place for six years. It's time it was implemented consistently. [...] The arcade operators have had ample time to prepare for this legal situation."
Mannheim's case is indicative of the situation in many cities throughout Germany. While the distance requirement in Baden-Württemberg is considered stricter than in other states (a 100-meter gap is required elsewhere), administrations nationwide must pick and choose which businesses to keep in operation and which to close. Random lotteries are used in some instances by authorities, which many operators view as arbitrary and unfair. Some arcade owners attempt to appeal based on hardship, citing recent developments in their business. However, given that this law has been established for five years, the validity of their claims seems questionable at best.
Constitutionality of Minimum Distance
The purpose of the Gambling Act is to "channel the natural inclination towards gambling in an organized manner" as well as to safeguard player welfare and curtail the spread of gambling. Nonetheless, there's considerable debate about the means to achieve these aims. Detractors of the minimum distance requirement argue that fewer arcades don't equate to less gambling; customers would just move to online platforms, where state oversight would be minimal.
Despite these controversies, court rulings have upheld the regulations at both state and federal levels. The law can't be challenged in cities like Mannheim; the municipality's responsibility is to enforce it and order closures. According to the Green city councilman, Tayanc, this action would significantly improve the cityscape:
"[...] Gambling addiction is an issue throughout our city. [...] Arcades are also not beneficial to urban development. They negatively impact a neighborhood and attract similar undesirable establishments. The fewer arcades there are, the better our city."
In conclusion, the Green party in Mannheim is pushing for the enforcement of existing laws regarding the closure of amusement arcades to improve the city's atmosphere and protect against gambling addiction.
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Source: www.onlinecasinosdeutschland.com
