Deutsche Automatenwirtschaft (DAW), an organization representing gaming machine associations of Germany creates a new wish list for the German State Treaty for Gambling. The market is eyeing re-regulation and lawmakers are prepping to discuss the new rules of the policy. Note that the controversial gambling regulation will be rehashed on a European level, which may mean a grand turn of fortune for the German gaming industry.

The controversial existing laws

According to the DAW, the existing gambling laws in the country do not affect the objectives of the State Treaty positively. The criteria used for creating regulations are quantitative, not qualitative which creates hurdles in directing the players to the legal gambling market. The organization also suggests that gambling establishments should be allowed to offer a multitude of gaming verticals to users. It also wants the state lottery to uphold its monopoly over draw-based games.

DAW chief executive Georg Stecker commented on the new regulations, saying,

“The amendment of the State Treaty on Gambling is a great opportunity to counteract the undesirable developments – above all the rapid growth of the black market – with a holistic approach.”

He also called on a coherent regulation that is designed to suit all forms of gaming and more strength to legal providers to crack down on illegal gaming establishments. Laws on commercial slot machines should be competitive, and there should be better consumer protection measures.

Reviews of land-based gaming

Stecker said that if online gaming is legalized, then land-based gaming machines should also be subjected to revised regulations. He said that market imbalances could be aggravated if land-based gaming laws aren’t rehashed. Legalized online gambling will enter with a new set of rules and will be available everywhere while commercial slot games will continue to function with incoherent regulation that comes with distance rules. Such a disparity could be harmful to the industry.

The DAW has laid down five principles objectives to be addressed in the new State Treaty. It wants uniform standards for player protection and gaming training for all gaming sectors. It also seeks a biometric system to enforce voluntary player restrictions on gambling across the nation.

It helps avoid players from simply changing channels to bypass prohibitions. It wants qualification and certification systems as well, which could differentiate between legal and illegal gambling arenas and ensure the quality of gaming machine professionals. Finally, it seeks regulations related to the exterior design of gaming arenas which could actively discourage children and vulnerable groups from gaming.