Only 8 betting shops left in Bremen due to tough regulation

Bremen is continuing its tough regulatory approach to betting shops. According to a press release from the Senate, the consistent enforcement of distancing rules means that there are actually only eight approved locations - a reduction of a whopping 75 percent since 2022. Politicians are celebrating this as a success. But is it really appropriate to publicly celebrate the closure of fundamentally legal businesses?

Anyone dealing with the German gambling market will always come across certain topics that cause a stir: The State Treaty on Gambling (GlüStV) of 2021 with its strict online regulations (also at GambleJoe) regularly causes discussions, tax increases bring gambling hall operators to the barricades and manipulated machines keep law enforcement officers on their toes. One particularly persistent debate revolves around the distance requirements for gambling establishments from sensitive facilities. In Bremen, it has become a real long-running issue.

The drastic extent of the regulatory policy is now becoming apparent: mainly due to the consistent enforcement of social distancing rules, there are now only eight permitted betting shops in Bremen, which seems quite manageable for a city with a population of over 600,000. In comparison: just a few years ago there were 32 establishments. Bremen's Senator of the Interior Ulrich Mäurer (SPD) sees this as a success - in a recent press release, the Senate draws "a positive conclusion".

"Especially around the main train station and in Gröpelingen, where numerous gambling offers were previously concentrated, we were able to significantly thin out the offer," explains Mäurer.

Of course, it is understandable that betting shops should not be located directly next to schools. But can the decline of an entire industry really be sold as a success so easily? How far can regulation go in an area that is basically legal by law? We take a closer look at the issue.

Betting shops have had a bad standing in Bremen for a long time

Just a few years ago, there were 32 betting shops in Bremen. But as early as 2022, Interior Senator Ulrich Mäurer (SPD) made it clear that he would prefer to close them all. His main argument at the time was that the origin of the founding capital was not sufficiently documented. Following an amendment to Bremen's gambling law, operators not only had to prove that their offer was licensed, but also disclose where the capital for the opening came from.

This had considerable consequences:

• All betting shops in Bremen were temporarily closed. Following inspections by the public order office, 14 establishments were not granted a new license - not because of money laundering or similar serious violations, but for other reasons: In eight cases, the authorities doubted the "reliability" of the operators, and in six others, the location was too close to another venue.
• But the regulatory process did not end there. The next tightening followed in July 2023: since then, not only must betting shops keep a minimum distance of 500 meters from each other, but gambling halls and betting agencies may no longer be located in close proximity to each other. The 500-meter rule also applies to schools.

These regulations meant that more locations had to close. As a result, there are now only eight licensed betting shops in Bremen - just a quarter of the original number from 2022. However, what is intended as an addiction prevention measure raises questions.

Strict rules are important - but is Bremen's crackdown on betting shops really proportionate?

In the official assessment of the tightening of distancing regulations, Interior Senator Ulrich Mäurer (SPD) draws a clear line: only eight betting shops remain in Bremen, which he sees as a clear success - especially from the point of view of player protection. His reasoning:

"The new rules allow people who are addicted to gambling and at risk of addiction to move around their district without being constantly confronted and triggered by gambling. This significantly reduces the pressure of addiction."

This is, of course, absolutely plausible. But let's take a look at other addictive consumer goods. What about alcohol and cigarettes? Are there strict distancing rules for pubs from youth facilities or from each other in Bremen? Are kiosks, which often sell a variety of tobacco products, just as severely restricted? Has the Senate ever announced that the number of such outlets is to be deliberately reduced on a massive scale?

► This is precisely where the question arises as to whether double standards are being applied. It is undisputed that gambling is a sensitive issue that needs to be strictly regulated. However, it is noticeable that the political approach to the industry is often particularly harsh and announcements to curb it are almost demonstratively solemn. And this is not only the case in Bremen. We saw something similar in connection with the increase in Frankfurt's gaming hall tax, where political representatives publicly rejoiced at the economic weakening of operators.

In his argumentation, Mäurer refers to surveys according to which a majority of the population supports even stricter regulation of the gambling sector. That may be true. But how many people support stricter measures against other addictive dangers with the same vehemence?

Source of the image: https://pixabay.com/photos/bremen-town-musicians-statue-3538451/

Central text sources: https://www.senatspressestelle.bremen.de/pressemitteilungen/erfolg-im-kampf-gegen-spielsucht-459941?asl=bremen02.c.732.de, https://gamesundbusiness.de/nur-noch-8-wettvermittlungsstellen-in-bremen-geoeffnet, https://gamesundbusiness.de/ulrich-maeurer-will-wettbueros-schliessen