Massive shutdown of arcades in Berlin and Düsseldorf
Many gaming arcades across Germany are struggling to remain open due to stricter regulations. In Berlin's Tempelhof-Schöneberg district, only two out of 35 amusement arcades are considered compliant with the law, while in Düsseldorf, over 50 arcades are scheduled to close by 2021. Let's take a look at the situation.
Arcades "ruining" communities
The implementation of the newly enacted Interstate Gambling Treaty (GlüStV) is taking a toll on gaming arcades throughout Germany. Berlin and Düsseldorf have been especially impacted, with more and more arcades being forced to shut down. In the more stringent gaming arcade laws of Berlin, which took effect in 2011, the Tempelhof-Schöneberg district has particularly garnered attention. Currently, only two out of a total of 35 amusement arcades in the district are deemed legal by the authorities, and the rest must permanently close.
There have been 11 closures in the district since 2016. City councillor Christiane Heiß (Greens) states that all "old permits for existing halls have now expired", and only the new law applies moving forward. Between 2011 and 2017, the number of amusement arcades in the nation's capital dropped from 584 to 385, and last year alone, approximately 100 establishments shut down in the city with a population of almost 3.6 million. Despite this, authorities claim that there are many more arcades still in operation that don't adhere to the strict legal guidelines. The SPD parliamentary group in the district assembly is particularly disappointed, with the SPD MP and urban development specialist Daniel Buchholz calling for further closures. The high concentration of arcades, Buchholz contends, would not only cause harm to people but also to the neighborhood.
Distance requirements
The regulations enacted in 2011 restrict the growth of amusement arcades in a few ways. There can only be one arcade in a building, and there must be at least 500 meters between individual establishments. A distance of 200 meters from schools is also mandated. Moreover, new laws concerning operating hours, the number of machines per arcade, and advertising have been enacted. Gambling halls must close between 3 and 11 a.m. and can now only have eight machines instead of the previous 12.
Additionally, stricter sanctions for advertising violations have been introduced. According to the law, these advertisements cannot be "conspicuous". What's more, free food and drinks are no longer allowed inside the establishments. Arcade operators found in violation of these regulations will be fined heavily.
Raids by law enforcement
SPD member of parliament Buchholz states that the police, public order offices, and tax investigators have been conducting raids with the intent of reducing the proliferation of arcades by issuing bigger fines. Despite these efforts, the situation has not improved. Buchholz declared:
"During the regular focus raids by the police, tax investigators, and public order offices, masses of violations have been discovered, but many operators pay the fines out of their petty cash. We have responded to this by increasing the range of fines from 50,000 to a maximum of 500,000 euros."
Berlin's SPD parliamentary group is now requesting more thorough inspections of all amusement arcades. These checks will be based on the "reliability of the operator" and the "minimum distances between establishments". Buchholz acknowledges that the process is a challenge, as several operators have appealed against the closure in court. The Berliner Morgenpost reported that two operators have recently won their case against closure. As for further developments, we'll have to wait and see.
Over 50 shutdowns in Düsseldorf
Not only in Berlin, but also in Düsseldorf, many amusement arcades are now facing closure. Since November 2017, there have been roughly 100 amusement arcades at a total of 65 locations in the Rhineland metropolis. However, since December 2017, a minimum distance requirement of 350 meters has also come into effect in Düsseldorf. Moreover, individual licenses for specific locations are now prohibited. As a result, more than 50 arcades are slated to shut down by July 1, 2021, and the city council intends to issue operating licenses for only 34 arcades at 34 locations. "We have made all the decisions and the notices are now being sent out," says Christian Zaum, Head of Public Order in a statement to RP Online. It seems that Düsseldorf is also bracing itself for a flood of complaints, particularly with regard to the eight-venue arcade in the B8-Center on Werdener Straße—this arcade is owned by none other than Paul Gauselmann of Merkur.
Gauselmann had voiced strong opposition to the planned reduction in arcades in Düsseldorf back in October, calling it a "total loss" and arguing that it's not a viable long-term solution. Interestingly, Gauselmann had just been named the new chief sponsor of Düsseldorf's sports city just a few months prior in July. So, it's no surprise that he's less than pleased with the district government's current plans. For now, we'll have to wait and see how things play out.
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Source: www.onlinecasinosdeutschland.com
