Exceptions for “old design” expired

So now the time has come: The exemption for slot machines in arcades and restaurants of the “old type” finally loses its legal validity on November 10, 2018. From mid -November, the 6th and 7th Ordinance for amending the game regulation apply without exception. New loss and profit upper limits to ensure better addiction prevention should have a noticeable consequences for players, slot machines and also the state.

Exemption expired – machine operators have to react

in USA, the game ordinance (spielv) regulates how slot machines have to work where money gains are possible. this gives binding requirements for the type, approval and installation of play equipment in arcades and restaurants. it also determines provisions for programming the associated game software. for example, profit and loss limits, break breaks or the duration of a single game round are clearly prescribed. since the introduction of the game regulation, numerous regulations on the gradual change of the legal text have been passed, mostly with the project to ensure more player protection during gambling. however, the constitutional changes did not have to be implemented directly, but set a transition period that allowed the operation of all money profit slot machines, which were permitted by the federal physical-technical authority before november 10, 2014, until november 10, 2018. according to the usual depreciation duration, the transition period for the installation period of the slot machines with “old design” was set for four years. this period expires in november. a basic modification of the game software is also regulated at the end of the transition period. the New technical guideline 5.0 (TR 5.0) has committed the machine operators to some fundamental changes that now also affect the player during the gambling.

Serious changes in gambling on machines

The changes in the rules that apply after the transition period have been reached by both the maximum profit and loss festival. The season is also regulated. The following table compares the changes that are valid from now on to the current requirements.

Basic regulations remain – innkeepers with a transition period

despite many serious changes in the law, the period for the use of money remains unchanged and continues to be a maximum of 20 cents within five seconds. the profit is also limited to two $ in five seconds. the legally regulated minimum distance between individual slot machines and the total number of play equipment per concession (maximum twelve, in some federal states there are eight). occurrencies with more than three slot machines are still subject to the ban on alcohol. the devices continue to be checked by the physikalisch-technische bundesanstalt. in the future, catering businesses will only be able to set up two play equipment. however, a transition period until november 9, 2019 was granted. until then, restaurants can still offer up to three slot machines. from november 10, 2019, hosts will then be limited to two play equipment.

Further law adjustments could follow

the changes to the game regulation, which are now in force through the 6th and 7th regulation, will massively change the gaming experience of money gaming machines in arcades and restaurants and, according to politics, are promoting player protection a lot. nevertheless, further regulations to change the game regulation will be expected in the future. however, the state is faced with the dilemma that more player protection means fewer tax revenue every year, the treasury achieves 1.12 billion $ in tax revenues. it remains to be seen how the changes in the law will affect tax income. if the tax revenue decreases, the state could also take a back and mitigate the laws.