In spring 2025, Vienna's Addiction and Drug Coordination will probably have a new "weapon" at its disposal to investigate violations of gambling regulations: A new law, should make it possible in future to smuggle young people into gambling halls as undercover test subjects, for example. Can it really be legal to use minors for such investigations? It is also interesting to note that the Vienna Youth Protection Act apparently only contains an inadequate ban on young people participating in games of chance.

Young people and gambling - sounds like a combination that shouldn't go together any more than chocolate and ketchup. And yet these two words are being used together more and more often.

  • It has been known for some time that gambling is becoming increasingly popular with young people. In the UK, it has even gone so far that there are already special clinics for online gaming addiction among children and young people.
  • While many believe that such facts mean that young people should be kept as far away from gambling as possible, others focus on prevention and education. Projects such as the SMART CAMPS at German schools set an example: Among other things, young people learn to recognize hidden gambling. In Sweden, there are even anti-gambling workshops for schoolchildren who could later make a career in professional sport.
In Vienna, the issue will probably soon be tackled with a little twist that practically turns the tables: in this case, young people are not potential victims, but go undercover as investigators in search of gambling violations - quite officially! According to the Vienna Addiction and Drug Coordination, they are supposed to test whether stores are selling products that are harmful to minors, such as gambling, but also alcohol or tobacco. Of course, everything is legally secured so that the young detectives don't get into trouble. The official aim is to make companies aware of the need to protect minors.

The whole thing is based on a planned amendment to the Vienna Youth Protection Act, which (if approved) will come into effect from April this year. What is particularly curious is that while the law currently covers slot machines, other games of chance are not covered at all. So there is a lot to clarify - and we take a look at how this new idea will work in Vienna.

How will the undercover bets work - is it really allowed?

The idea sounds pretty daring at first: young people are to go undercover in search of violations of youth protection regulations. But don't worry, the whole thing should be strictly regulated and absolutely legal. Undercover investigators in amusement arcades are not uncommon, but they are usually specially trained adults.

The planned amendment to the Vienna Youth Protection Act creates a clear basis for these bets. Specifically, it will allow the Addiction and Drug Coordination to check whether products harmful to minors - such as gambling, alcohol or tobacco - are being sold to minors. And this also requires minors as testers, according to those responsible.

To ensure that the bets remain legally flawless, the legislator has built in a number of requirements that must be met.

  1. Consent of legal guardians: Nothing happens without the approval of mom, dad or other "legal guardians".
  2. Training: Before the young detectives are allowed to get started, they receive comprehensive instruction so that they know what they are doing.
  3. Accompaniment: An adult supervisor must always be present during the bets - probably an official from the authorities.
  4. No loot: The young people are not allowed to keep anything they buy or win. The goods - and any potential wins - must be handed over to the accompanying person immediately.

The last point in particular can of course quickly set our synapses in motion as gambling enthusiasts: What happens if a mystery shopper hits the free spins while gambling on a slot machine or even hits a multiple double on the lottery? Will the accompanying person then pick up the jackpot with the lottery ticket in their hand? Unfortunately, the explanations don't go that far - but it would certainly be exciting.

One thing is certain: the aim of the test purchases is not to endanger young people themselves or to make content that is harmful to minors accessible to them. Instead, the aim is to sensitize companies to strictly adhere to the regulations. Presumably, such bets will then be made on a regular basis, which means that gambling operators and store owners will have to be more vigilant in the long term.

And for those wondering whether this is actually legal: Yes, explicitly! The amendment states in black and white that such bets do not constitute an administrative offense (at least not for the young investigators) and are a legitimate means of prevention.

Inadequate Youth Protection Act: Are only gaming machines for children and young people really prohibited in Vienna?

The Vienna Youth Protection Act is sometimes described in press reports on the young gambling detectives as being full of holes - and if you take a closer look, this criticism is probably not unfounded.

Until now, there has apparently been a lack of clear regulations on young people's access to gambling, apart from a ban on gaming machines. In short: slot machines are taboo, but what about other offers such as the lottery or sports betting? Speaking of "slot machines": we recently reported on the exciting case of the Austrian slot machine gang "Kajot", which has remained elusive for years.

This is precisely where the planned amendment to the law comes in and aims to finally get to the heart of the matter.

What used to apply - and what didn't

  • Gaming machines: Young people under the age of 18 are not allowed to play on gaming machines or stay in premises where they dominate. This has been clearly regulated in the Youth Protection Act since 2002.
  • Lotto: Until a few years ago, the age limit for participation was only 16. In the meantime, providers such as Austrian Lotteries have voluntarily committed to restricting access to adults. However, there was no mention of this in the Youth Protection Act.
  • Sports betting: Sports betting is not a game of chance in Austria, but is classified as a game of skill. This means that they are not covered by the Gambling Act and are regulated at state level. In Vienna, young people are not allowed to be in betting shops, but this has not yet been directly anchored in the Youth Protection Act either.

Sounds complicated? It is! But that is precisely why clarity is now finally to be created. With the change in the law, the aim is to have everything in one place. No exceptions, no loopholes.

"It is important to us to protect young people in Vienna in the best possible way," emphasizes Christoph Wiederkehr, City Councillor for Education, Youth, Integration and Transparency.

The planned amendment aims to strengthen protection against the dangers of gambling and other addictive substances such as tobacco. The aim is to finally ban all relevant forms of gambling - from slot machines to betting - explicitly for people under 18.

The previous loopholes in the law could certainly give the impression that young people in Vienna had easy access to gambling. But it wasn't quite that bad after all.

The approach with the young gambling detectives is without question exciting and definitely anything but commonplace. Fortunately, the matter seems to be clearly regulated so that the investigators do not take any risks. The long-term and regular bets in particular could ensure that gambling providers and store operators take prevention for young people much more seriously. It is astonishing that no critical voices have yet been raised by youth protection organizations - at least not publicly. This means that nothing stands in the way of the plan for the time being.

Source of the image: https://pixabay.com/photos/teenager-hoodie-hand-no-gesture-5842706/

Central text source: https://www.diepresse.com/19167548/wien-erlaubt-jugendlichen-testkaeufe-von-zigaretten-und-gluecksspiel

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