Sustainability Guide for Gaming Halls Published

Sustainability is now an important issue in German arcades. On 19 July, the Bundesverband Automatenunternehmer presented a guideline with concrete recommendations for measures to implement or promote greater environmental awareness in Germany's gaming arcades. What exactly does this mean?

Eco, bio, environmental protection, sustainability: these and similar terms are more common today than ever before. For an increasing number of citizens, companies, authorities and countries, the conscious use of resources, the protection of nature and the social interaction with people are not only a matter of honour, but also a prerequisite for the future viability of society.

These values have now been adopted by the German gaming industry with the sustainability guidelines of the Bundesverband Automatenunternehmer (BA). According to the BA, this is a modern concept of sustainability which, mutatis mutandis, points out a multitude of tips for more responsibility in environmental protection and commitment to social behaviour.

The guide focuses on efficient energy management, sustainable staff deployment and, last but not least, social responsibility.

These are the key objectives of the Gaming Hall Sustainability Guideline

The BA's guidance is designed to help companies in the land-based gaming sector make a positive impact on the environment, society and ultimately their bottom line.

• Save resources: Several checklists are provided to encourage the arcades to be more efficient in terms of heating, lighting and ventilation, among other things. In general, the aim is to encourage a more intensive focus on sustainability in practice. With the help of clear points of reference, those responsible can examine the possibilities for improvement and ultimately implement the most beneficial measures in a targeted manner. 

• Sustainable personnel policy: The sustainability guideline also starts with human resources management. It outlines important to-dos for a social HR policy. The main aim is to promote the well-being of employees, make better use of their potential and contribute to environmental protection. Promoting diversity and equality within the company are also important aspects. Sustainable human resources management does not stop at employees' rights and health and well-being. Flexible working hours and work-life balance are addressed.

• Social commitment: Sustainability plays an important role for the BA, not only within the company, but also in society as a whole. For example, the association encourages casinos to get involved in social projects. One example is health projects that improve the quality of life for citizens. It is made clear that social commitment is possible in practically all areas of society. Whether it is nature conservation, cultural work, voluntary work, sponsorship or sponsoring - what is good for the community is also good for business.

Without employees, nothing works

According to the Sustainability Policy, employees are and will remain the most important resource of the company. It is therefore essential to involve them as directly as possible in the processes described above. In general, arcade operators are motivated to strengthen the positions of the different employees and to give them career incentives.

Existing know-how should be widely used in the sense of involvement in progress towards sustainability goals. Ideally, employees should be involved in all phases - from analysis and planning to implementation and monitoring. Criticism should not go unheard. Suggestions for improvement should be welcomed. Ideally, everyone should be kept informed of progress and achievements.

This is what the Bundesverband Automatenunternehmer itself says about the guide

Commenting on the guidance and its aims, Thomas Breitkopf, President of the BA, said in a press release:

„Sustainability is so much more than protecting the environment. Our carefully developed sustainability approach shows that we think far beyond energy management, switching to recycled paper or using water sprayers. In addition to all the economic aspects, there are also social aspects that affect our industry.“

„Our mission is to provide our members and affiliates with the tools they need to meet the challenges and opportunities of the future. We want to actively support entrepreneurs of all generations in our industry to contribute to a stable and sustainable society in harmony with the environment.“

Conclusion

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