Saxony-Anhalt: Occupational Act before reform

In Saxony-Anhalt, a change in the arcade law there is probably imminent. The state parliament in the Federal Long wants a corresponding regulation. The first draft law developed is now available.

Law draft follows Gaming State Treaty

Saxony-Anhalt does not seem to be as strict as other federal states-at least in relation to arcades. The government coalition’s group chairman provides for an exception – for minimum distances and multiple concessions. This would be a relaxation and thus advantages for the operators of the land -based casinos. According to the Gambling State Treaty 2021 the federal states themselves may and should make regulations regarding arcades. So far, the federal states have published changes to the respective Occupational Hall Act, which corresponded to the nationwide requirements.

Last Thursday, the state parliament also published a draft of the second amendment law, an adjustment regulation of the previous arcade law-Saxony-Anhalt-SpielHG LSA for short-to the Game State Treaty 2021-GlüstV 2021. , SPD and FDP. As of February 2023, according to a response to a small request from the SPD in Saxony-Anhalt, there were 327 arcades in July 2021. At the time there were 452 installations outside of arcades for money play equipment. According to the MDR, around 3,500 slot machines in the federal state in 2020 would have made sales of around 113 million euros.

Saxony-Anhalt not so strict

The Saxony-Anhalt parliamentary draft is rather generous compared to those of the other federal states compared to arcade operators. A minimum age of 18 years should continue to apply to a visit to the arcade. In contrast to Bremen or Lower Saxony, where the minimum age is no longer 18 but 21 years old. The minimum distance is also relatively low. The differences once again show that the individual federal states are not one to one in some matters. But completely different rules are also not possible: the requirements of the GlüstV 2021 are still to be observed.

The minimum distance should and may be regulated by the countries. Both the minimum distance from arcades to children and youth facilities as well as the distance of the Casinos There should be 200 meters in Saxony-Anhalt. Several other federal states, on the other hand, had provided a minimum distance of more than twice: 500 meters. But there are exceptional cases to the rather low minimum. In individual cases, this minimum distance can also be undercut. In order to receive a special case permit, the following requirements must be met:

• A certificate of expertise to be demonstrated with the application for permission, which the operator (s) has acquired in and the person who has the order to operate the management as a conclusion of a lesson with examination
• A particularly trained staff in the arcade
• The existence of the arcade, for which permission is requested, as early as January 1, 2020
• A certification of an accredited examination organization

Exception also for composite play halls

Similar to the requirements of the distance rules, these are also in conjunction with the operation of the arcades. In exceptional cases, this form of operating is also said to be possible through transitional provisions. The criteria of the opening clause for joint game halls should apply until June 30, 2037. At least the industry magazine Games & Business reports and relies on the Association of automatic merchants Berlin and East USA.

Furthermore, the association also assumes that the proposed changes to the Calvage Act is still part of the program in the first reading in the state parliament of the federal state this month. Listen and consultations are planned for September. The interest association expects a final decision in October this year. However, according to the experts, it is not yet possible to say whether the current draft will be adopted without any changes or whether the parliamentarians will still be proposed. But if the current draft law remains, this is certainly in the interest of the operators.