Commercial installation of gaming machines with winning possibilities
If you want to install gaming machines with winning possibilities on a commercial basis, you require a licence. In addition, you have to provide proof that the chosen location for each installed machine is suitable for this purpose. The municipality, in which you want to install the machine with winning possibilities, will issue a confirmation for this purpose.
Please note that you are not allowed to open an amusement arcade with this licence. More information can be found in the procedure description "Licence for Amusement Arcades".
Prerequisite
- personal reliability of the applicant
- approval of the machines by the Federal Institute of Physics and Metrology (Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt)
This approval has to be renewed every two years.
Responsible department
the municipal administration or city council (Gemeinde-/Stadtverwaltung), in which you want to install the gaming machine with winning possibilities.
Procedure
You have to apply for the licence to install the gaming machines with winning possibilities at the responsible authority. Some municipalities provide a form and/or put it online as a download.
The licence can be subject to conditions, also with regard to the installation location, if it serves to protect the general public, the guests or the residents of the respective business premises or the neighbouring premises or is required to protect minors. The conditions can also be issued, amended or supplemented subsequently.
Required documents
- completed application form
- copy of the identity card or comparable identity documents
- for proof of the corporate legal form
- If the location of your company is in Germany, you will need:
- for registered companies: an excerpt of the Commercial Register (Handelsregisterauszug) and if applicable a copy of the shareholders agreement (e.g. for a company constituted under civil law, (GbR)).
- If your company is located abroad, you will need documents from the country where it is located which prove its legal form.
- If the location of your company is in Germany, you will need:
- for proof of personal reliability
- If your place of residence is in Germany, you will normally need:
- Certificate of Good Conduct (Führungszeugnis)
- Excerpt from the Central Trade Register (Auszug aus dem Gewerbezentralregister)
- If your place of residence is abroad, you will need documents from your native country, which prove that you have the personal reliability to provide the requested service.
- If your place of residence is in Germany, you will normally need:
- if necessary proof that the installation location is suitable
When checking the personal reliability, in individual cases the authorising authority could request alongside the documents listed additional documents, which are appropriate to make a statement about your personal reliability as applicant.
In the case of legal entities (GmbH, corporate companies, AG, registered cooperatives) the application form only has to be completed by the legal entity itself. All personal documents have to be submitted for all natural persons authorised to manage the company (e.g. certificate of good conduct, personal documents). In addition, an excerpt from the Central Trade Register has to be applied for in the case of legal entities.
In the case of partnerships, which as such are not capable of holding a licence (GbR, KG, OHG, PartG, GmbH & Co. KG), each of the managing partners requires the licence. I.e. an application form and all personal documents are required for each person.
Costs
The amount charged is based on the local regulations governing the fees.
Release note
The German original version of this text was drafted in close cooperation with the relevant departments. The Wirtschaftsministerium released it on 04.08.2015. Only the German text is legally binding. The Federal State does not assume any liability for the translated texts.
In cases of doubt or if you have any questions or problems, please contact the relevant authorities directly.