The petition is in response to a proposed amendment to the state’s Gaming Act (LGlüG) that could potentially close gaming halls located within 500m of another gaming hall, school, or area primarily for minors. The amendment, put forth by the Social Democratic Party (SPD), the Free Democratic Party (FDP), and Bündnis 90, also seeks to increase funding for addiction centers from €1m to €1.2m annually. It was presented in the state parliament (Landtag) on 15 December.
The amendment has faced strong opposition from national and state slot machine associations, such as the German gaming machine trade association die Deutsche Automatenwirtschaft eV (DAW) and its state equivalent Automaten-Verband Rheinland-Pfalz eV (AVRP). They argue that this law would force the closure of the majority of gaming halls in the state, potentially leading to the loss of 4,000 jobs.
In response, a petition has been circulated, initiated by Wolfgang Götz, a gaming hall operator based in Baden-Württemberg. The petition seeks to demonstrate public opposition to the proposed amendment and has already garnered over 1,900 signatures, with more than 1,100 from Rheinland-Pfalz residents. The main focus of the petition is the potential job losses in the casino-gaming sector, with concerns raised about the impact on employees, particularly women over the age of 50.
The petition also highlights the findings of mystery shopper tests, which indicate that less than 1% of under-18s attempting to play at gaming halls were successful. Additionally, it questions the timing of implementing these restrictions alongside the opening of the online casino market in the state, as regulated by the Glücksspielneuregulierungstaatsvertrag (GlüNeuRStV). The petition asserts that online casinos are not subject to minimum distance regulations like gaming halls and calls for equal treatment from the state government.
