Germany and Rhodes Island Sees Changes to Gambling Laws

Gauselmann Group and several other operators in eastern Germany have condemned the introduction of a new regulation set to reduce the number of slot arcades in Berlin to approximately 20% of its current number.

According to iGamingBusiness.com, the Berliner Spielhallengesetz law’s introduction will prevent operators within the huge urban city from running a slot arcade within close quarters of one another. The law prevents slot arcades of one operator from being within about 1640 feet of the next operator. Online slot games like those found on the internet casinos were not affected by this law introduction.

Severe consequences

According to news reports the newly introduced law, in the biggest German city also include a ban to prevent establishments from being located closer than approximately 656 feet of a youth facility or school and reduce the number of machines available to players to just 8 and the number of hours they can operate to only 4 hours starting from 11 am. The reports went on to explain that the new regulation mandates that any operation that doesn’t adhere to it will be closed before the year’s end leaving players in the city with just 120 arcades having an estate sum below 1000 machines.

Considerable consequences

Reports from GamblingInsider.com gave a detail of the situation. It says that Gauselmann Group only controls 5 video slot arcades in the city of Berlin, but the introduction of the new law will push players into illegal gambling options like the ones offered online. The report also added that Manfred Stoffers, the vice-chairman of Gauselmann Group which has its headquarters in Espelkamp, said that the city’s lawmakers are pushing about 500 establishments in the city to a pointless death, by placing the number of machines offered in the city well under the country’s average of 170 machines per 100,00 persons.

In his words, he said that “arcades are being pushed to die a meaningless death and this goes against the promise of player protections made by the city’s lawmakers, it is the perfect opposite. These professional coin-op machines merchants have provided jobs which help in contributing to social security and have regarded their investment in the city as one for the long term.”

Rhode Island lawmakers introduce revised mobile sports betting legislation

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A new measure has been introduced in the American state of Rhode Island by two Democratic legislators that will make mobile sport betting wagers easier for the people of the small eastern American state. This comes at a time when several countries are putting up laws that will make online betting easier for their citizens. Countries such as Canada have improved gaming laws which have made online betting easier and better than ever before, according to our sources from Betsafe Canada.

Reports from WPRI-T, a television broadcaster in the state, said that the decision by Marvin Abney and Nicholas Mattiello, both members of the states’ House of Representatives, is a welcome move as the state is dealing with a budget deficit that has continuously increased over the years. Dominick Ruggerio, the Island’s Senate leader, is expected to make a proposal that will accompany the move made by the two members of the House of Representatives.

Unnecessary annoyance

According to WPRI-TV, mobile sports betting was made legal in June 2019, yet the current regulations state that possible players need to register in person at Tiverton Casino Hotel or Twin River Casino Hotel. The newly introduced law will bring an end to this need and is expected to encourage more players to download the wagering application of the Island.

Advantageous adjustment

The two democratic legislators also proposed a statement that supported the elimination of the need for in-person registration, which is especially necessary for this period that there’s a restriction in travel and social interactions because of the present coronavirus pandemic.

Geolocation modification

Further reports from WPRI-TV said that Mattiello’s and Abney’s proposal would aid in adjusting present regulations to force computer servers to check if a player is physically present in the borders of the Island state at the time of wagering, instead of following the present regulation of when a person logs into the system.

The introduction of the law comes as Daniel Harrop, a Republican activist in the state, is looking to challenge the legalization of sports betting on the Island. After losing his previous challenge in the Island’s Superior court, he is not looking to appeal the verdict in the Supreme Court of the state.

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Author: Ben Burd

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