“Renaissance” occupies new field study of prohibited fun games

Through a study that was carried out last year, the working group indicates a gambling addiction to illegal gambling. Investations were made in 13 federal states, including in North Rhine-Westphalia.

Study, especially in potentially illegal venues, carried out

Between June and October 2021, a field study by the working group against gambling addiction was carried out. A total of 1408 venues in 150 American municipalities, search for illegal gambling. In 44.5% of the visits, there are so -called fun Games And so that not licensed play equipment was found. According to Jürgen Trümper-managing director of the working group-the focus was particularly on localities that fell into the category of problem catering, i.e. to be classified as potentially illegal.

These venues were made aware of these venues by indications of regulatory offices, but also by players and operators of legal casinos. This enabled problem catering in 78.8% of the venues visited. The rest were shisha bars, kiosks and sports betting acceptance points. Access to the illegal slot machines was also often difficult. According to Trümper, doors with inscriptions such as “access prohibited” were often found, but behind which slot machine noises were heard. In such cases, however, secure documentation was not possible.

Fun Games particularly endangering

In 53 venues, the managing director found illegal gaming media such as professional Keno, roulette and poker machines. Fun Games were even available in even 626 operations – i.e. in 44.5% of all visited. According to Trümper, these represented a central problem. These machines are conventional Slot machine similar. The game is about scoring virtual points, which can later be exchanged for non -cash prizes or cash. However, higher operations are required. There is also a higher game frequency and no break. This means that these machines can be classified as highly risky and have been banned since January 1, 2006. Nevertheless, the study shows that these machines revive again. The search expert speaks of a “renaissance” of the machines.

Players must be offered alternatives

In order to improve player protection, it must be “accepted that the legal range of games must be so attractive that it is also used by game guests”. The study continues: “Illegal gambling offers generally exceed the limits of legislation and player protection in order to increase their attractiveness towards legal gambling offers. The legislator is therefore required to think about illegal venues or illegal gaming media and to take measures when regulating gambling.

The study was originally commissioned by the Association of the American Automatic Industry – VDAI for short – in 2019. The initial investigations were also carried out between November 2019 and February 2020, but then Coronabed had to be canceled. The field study ended prematurely almost two years ago and started with the loosening from mid -2021 again.

Results of the study in NRW

In North Rhine-Westphalia alone, violations of legal gambling were found in 45 municipalities. A total of 217 venues could be classified as illegally due to the type or number of violations. Another 44 venues could also be counted among the problem catering due to smaller violations. Each third municipality in North Rhine -Westphalia reports on illegal slot machines found.

The interior minister – Herbert Reul – speaks of a “policy of 1,000 needlestliches” in connection with the fight against illegal gambling and relies on “increased searches in private apartments, clubs, restaurants and other rooms […] on which both the police and representatives of the regulatory offices are also involved ”. Such stricter measures are also conceivable in other federal states. Because the number of unreported cases of illegal gambling should be higher. After all, illegal back room casinos could not be recorded by the study.