Upper Austria. A subcommittee dealt on Thursday with the planned amendments to the Upper Austria. Slot machines and the Upper Austria. Betting Act. It was also planned that the setting up of gaming machines should generally be possible in future “in publicly accessible rooms of all commercial facilities” – this led to severe criticism in advance. But this regulation does not come after all.
The aim is to continue to fight illegal gambling and to ensure a safe environment for legal and controlled gambling, according to State Security Councilor Wolfgang Klinger (FPÖ), which is why the Upper Austrian amendments are in the subcommittee. Slot machines and the Upper Austria. Betting Act has been dealt with.
The fact that gaming machines may in future also be set up in shopping centers or cinemas is now being refrained from. It was precisely this planned innovation that led to severe criticism from the SPÖ, the Greens and Neos in advance.
Klinger: No change is currently necessary
The current legal regulations go back to the year 2012, when the “small game of chance” was allowed in Upper Austria in order to prevent uncontrolled gambling at the time. “Only through the clearly regulated and state-controlled gambling – paired with the excellent work of the police – the number of illegal machines has now been reduced by 87 percent – and the trend is falling,” says the State Security Council. “Due to the months-long corona lockdown in the catering industry, however, it was to be feared that this positive trend would stall. Technical experts have therefore recommended that access to legal and controlled machines be maintained through Corona-related adaptation of the locations in question. This is important so that addicts in particular do not slide into illegality. In view of the most recent opening steps, however, it is now to be expected that no changes will be necessary at the moment in order to be able to consistently curb illegal gambling. We will therefore not have to make any adjustments for the time being, but will monitor developments closely, ”said Klinger after the subcommittee.
Greens: “would have been a setback”
“The planned novella of Upper Austria. Gaming Machine Act would have been a setback for player protection. Gaming machines would have been allowed in much more publicly accessible rooms than before, making gambling much easier. “We have urged the responsible regional councilor, Klinger, to withdraw this plan. I am delighted that in the subcommittee today he refrained from the planned expansion of the machine line-up. Because an increase in the presence of machines in public places almost tempts to gamble, promotes gambling addiction, is a danger for minors and overall player protection. The aim must be to curb gambling and its negative consequences, “said the Greens LAbg. Gottfried Hirz after the subcommittee on Thursday.
Michael Lindner (SPÖ): “Our goal achieved”
“At the end of the deliberations, Landrat Klinger happily showed himself to be insightful and responded to the experts’ warnings about an expansion of the addiction potential. The corresponding passages for other machine locations have been deleted from the draft law. Thus, our goal has been achieved and the SPÖ club can also approve the amendment, ”said SPÖ club chairman Mag. Michael Lindner and security spokesman LAbg. Hermann Krenn, who also decided to lower the upper limit for registration-free sports and live bets to 50 euros Framework of the Upper Austria. Welcome the betting law.
Felix Eypeltauer (Neos): “Glad that the novella is not coming”
“The fact that ÖVP and FPÖ dropped the amendment to the Gaming Act at the last moment does not change the fact that Governor Stelzer and his deputy Haimbuchner wanted to deliver even more gaming machines to Upper Austria. Neos have continuously drawn attention to the state government’s plans in the National Council over the past few months. Had it not been for the enormous pressure from NEOS and the opposition in the state parliament, the ÖVP and FPÖ would have waved through the amendment without a trace of guilty conscience. This is government policy bypassing the welfare of Upper Austrians and an irresponsible handling of issues such as addiction and player protection, which can endanger the livelihoods of entire families. So I’m glad that the novella won’t come, ”says Neos country spokesman and LT election top candidate Felix Eypeltauer.
Neos want to campaign for strong player protection and a proactive approach to addiction prevention in Upper Austria from autumn onwards, according to the NEOS state spokesman.
Tightening of the betting law: more player protection and access barriers
However, tightening of the betting law is necessary – Klinger emphasizes on the further planned changes to the Upper Austria. Betting Act “to better fight against illegal betting offices and the addictive potential of sports betting.” Klinger continues: “The lowering of the upper limit for registration-free sports and live bets to fifty euros is an essential step towards greater player protection and stronger access barriers. We will consistently continue down the path of clearly regulated and monitored gaming and ensure through transparent and secure access to legal machines and betting facilities that not a single millimeter is left for illegal gaming in this country, “said Klinger.
Federal resolution agreed for June 17th
“I am glad that we came to a sensible and joint solution,” said OÖVP club chairman Christian Dörfel following the gambling subcommittee.
In addition to the amended law, in Upper Austria. State Parliament also passed a joint federal resolution on June 17th: “Experts today attested that our way of a very restricted game of chance within the legal framework is correct and better than a complete ban. The federal government must provide an Austria-wide uniform solution in order to achieve the highest possible level of player protection and effective instruments against illegal gambling, “said Dörfel.
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