Proposed Merkur casino faces criticism
A self-help organization for individuals who have recovered from gambling addictions cautions against the tricks used in casinos and the potential for ending up in debt in the city of Halle (Saale). The firm behind the casino is called Merkur, and they have come out in defense of their business model.
After opening two more casinos in Magdeburg and Günthersdorf, Merkur is now planning to launch its third one in August at the Halle Congress and Cultural Center (K&K). Merkur only has two licenses for traditional casino games, but four licenses for casinos with slot machines, so the focus in Halle will be on these types of games. The parent company, Gauselmann Group, is being criticized for this strategy, according to Mitteldeutsche Zeitung (MZ):
"We consider it extremely dangerous for another problematic venue to emerge with the casino. Halle already has so many gambling halls," explains Stefan Börner, the Chairman of the "Gambling Addiction Self-Help Group."
Dieter Kuhlmann, the Director of Gaming Operations at Merkur, had stated in the MZ in mid-February that they would begin with 85 machines and have the option of expanding to 120. They plan to offer games such as 3D gaming machines, electronic blackjack, and roulette variants, which don't involve croupiers. Börner, who works with his organization to help prevent slot machine addiction, argues that this automation could be risky: "The potential for manipulation is lower with croupiers than with slot machines. And with slot machines, the money is lost more quickly due to faster rounds of gambling," he says from personal experience.
Criticism of the business model
Börner believes it's dubious that the casino will be different from regular arcades, as David Schnabel claimed in February. Instead, he thinks they will use common casino tricks to keep players lingering in front of the machines. He continues by saying that because the stakes are higher in casinos, there's a higher chance of losing a lot of money. Börner is also critical of the fact that Schnabel also acts as the Managing Director and Gambling Addiction Prevention Officer at Merkur.
Börner doesn't view the gold and orange color scheme or the glassed-in smoking areas and bars for drinks and snacks in the premises as distinctive casino concepts - instead, he sees them as standard operator tricks. These elements are meant to make players feel comfortable and encourage them to keep playing for extended periods. In addition, the payment system also contributes to the manipulation, with an automated, coinless deposit and withdrawal system, where players receive a ticket in exchange for cash. Börner explains the strategy, which is promoted as a security measure to prevent robberies, stating, "You don't have any real money in your hand, just the ticket. There's no connection to the money, and you handle it carelessly."
Merkur defends casino plans
The casino operators see accusations coming from Börner as unjustified. Mario Hoffmeister, the spokesman for Merkur, considers them an "insult to the honor" of the thousands of visitors. He explains that gamblers who visit Merkur's casinos are not lured in with "flimsy tricks" but are instead encouraged by the wide variety of entertainment and food options.
Hoffmeister points out that there are different regulations for gambling and winning opportunities in casinos compared to arcades. Finally, he defends the payment system that has been criticized by Börner, saying it is simply a matter of "optimizing work processes." The spokesperson also defends David Schnabel, asserting that the central prevention division of the Gauselmann Group had been restructured under his leadership. Not only that, but because of the importance placed on prevention work, it has also been given a high-level position within the organization.
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Source: www.onlinecasinosdeutschland.com
