Gaming arcades must maintain a minimum distance from schools
According to a decision by the Higher Administrative Court in Bremen, amusement arcades must keep a minimum distance of 500 meters from certain schools. The court thus confirmed the Bremen Gambling Halls Act, as the Higher Administrative Court announced on Friday. According to this law, amusement arcades are not granted a permit if they fall below the minimum distance of 500 meters as the crow flies from secondary schools, grammar schools or vocational schools.
Several amusement arcade operators consider the regulation to be unconstitutional and appealed to the Administrative Court. After the court did not follow the arguments of the arcade operators, they have now also lost their case before the Higher Administrative Court.
The Higher Administrative Court justified its decision by stating that the introduction of the minimum distance served to protect children and young people. Children and young people should not be given the impression that the gambling halls are a harmless leisure activity. The decisions cannot be appealed.
Despite the controversy, schools in the vicinity should maintain a distance from establishing new gaming arcades due to the court's rulings. Furthermore, the process of evaluating games of chance in arcades requires careful judgments to ensure safety and prevent misconceptions among children.
Source: www.dpa.com
