A new German law for gaming machines is likely at the end of this year, which has led to the German trade associations taking the dramatic step of cancelling its 2015 IMA trade show, set to be held in mid-January.
The 16 increasingly aggressive semi-autonomous provinces in Germany are notoriously anti-arcades - the mainstay of the German business. They had developed a common strategy for arcades, which involves sweeping changes in the way arcades are organised and run.
The trade show, held annually in Düsseldorf, was cancelled in 2013, but was held again earlier this year, always against the backdrop of the threats from the provinces, which include banning the “clustering” of arcade licences, restrictions on proximity of arcades and clamping down on opening hours.
Now it seems that they have some degree of federal support. Explaining the latest developments, Jürgen Stühmeyer, managing director of the principal IMA exhibitor, the Gauselmann Group, said: “Our Minister of Economics is prepared to sign the regulations into law, once the details have been notified to the European Commission.
“We can therefore expect a new German gaming machine law between November and January. Against this background, holding the IMA show in January makes no sense.”
Lars Rogge, managing director at another major exhibitor, Bally-Wulff, said: “For the moment, the market in Germany remains buoyant, but we (the German industry) will meet again at ICE in London.”
The German trade associations are meanwhile working on plans to counter the legality of the restrictions.
