Insight
GERMANY Gauselmann Group
take a large number of orders. Of course, we did notice in individual conversations that our customers are actively considering future business strategies. However, the frequently touted 'major threat' has not been quite so clearly recognisable. While everyone is aware that cuts may have to be made, no one fears the continually threatened sword of Damocles. Overall we can say that our customers are continuing to invest in their future.
Charles Hiten and Sakis Isaakidis of Merkur Gaming Is the German AWP market actually in danger?
When we talk about AWP gaming in Germany, we mean commercial gaming. We're talking about gaming, which from a politically point of view, was and still is absolutely desirable. A future exclusively centred around gaming for big sums of money, i.e. that takes place in casinos and online casinos, is inconceivable in Germany, nor is it desirable politically speaking. For us in Germany, it is above all about entertainment with and for small sums of money. Our goal is to defend gaming with and for small sums of money against public prejudice and erroneous political developments. For almost 60 years we have stood for commercial gaming products that bring enjoyment to many millions of people in gastronomy and gaming venues without overwhelming them financially.
What impact do you expect the TR5.0 regulations to have on the industry, when they come into force on 11 November 2018?
Firstly, you can expect many positive effects because the industry has had a long time to prepare for the new technical guidelines. In total, we have had more than four years to think about new housings as well as games or rather content and to develop these. As a result a stream of innovations is set be released in 2018 in particular. Due to legal requirements devices compliant with TR5.0 guidelines will probably not quite match the performance level of today's devices. Te political cuts have been just too deep in this respect. Nevertheless, I consider the current industry to be innovative enough to produce devices that will be very much of interest to gaming guests. Tis will make the transition from the existing to the new gaming ordinance not all that hard.
The corporate focus on "Responsible Gaming" has been made exceedingly clear. In some entertainment centres you have already installed "Face-Check" technology. How does this resonate with your guests?
Te legal requirements for gaming venues in Germany have been drastically tightened in recent years. Amongst other things, these requirements include guidelines on admission control. In Hesse the first state-wide player blacklist for arcades has been in force since 2013 and with it some very clear guidelines regarding admission control. Te associated ID checks have deterred many arcade guests. Te fear of entering places where ID checks take place has meant that 30 percent of guests now look to do their gaming where such checks are not required. Tanks to our adp facial recognition system Merkur Face-Check players will henceforth no longer be forced to reveal their identity and thereby reveal personal data. Checks are completely contactless and
P50 NEWSWIRE / INTERACTIVE /
247.COM Jürgen Stüymeyer with customers
go unnoticed while the player blacklist is checked and age verification for the protection of minors takes place. After all, we do not want to earn our money from people who are unwell or do not have themselves under control. We have been pursuing this development path, which is already successfully being used abroad, for years and firmly believe it to be the admission control system of the future.
What else are you doing for the protection of gaming guests and minors?
Due to the legal requirements in force in Hesse we have acted on our customers' request and developed an entry solution for gaming venues, namely our "Merkur Check-In" system, which is the most widely used access system in Hesse because it offers a perfect combination of compliance with local OASIS guidelines and our customers' practical requirements and those of their gaming guests.
Furthermore, we have developed an ideal solution for the protection of minors in gastronomy settings, in line with the national legal requirements that have been in force since November 2015. We were the first provider to allow gaming equipment to be unlocked by remote control. In this way the landlord can reassure him- or herself that players meet the minimum legal age requirements before then unlocking the respective device. Another solution we have developed is the document reader, which gaming guests can use independently, i.e. they can use their identity card or other approved means of identification, e.g. a debit card, to prove their age. Beyond social controls by landlords our systems are also set up from a technical point of view to ensure that underage guests cannot use gaming machines in gastronomy settings.
A future exclusively centred around gaming for big sums of money, i.e. that takes place in casinos and online casinos, is inconceivable in Germany, nor is it desirable politically speaking. For us in Germany, it is above all about entertainment with and for small sums of money. Our goal is to defend gaming with and for small sums of money against public prejudice and erroneous political developments. For almost 60 years we have stood for commercial gaming products that bring enjoyment to many millions of people in gastronomy and gaming venues without overwhelming them financially.
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