Berlin court dismisses challenge to distance rules for gambling venues
The Berlin Administrative Court has dismissed a lawsuit filed by operators seeking to overturn the minimum distance rules for gambling venues
The Berlin Administrative Court has rejected a lawsuit filed by operators seeking to overturn the minimum distance requirements for gambling venues in Berlin.
The 2020 legislation stipulates a minimum 500m distance between gaming halls and betting shops, a rule which the operators claimed disproportionately favors gaming halls and restricts the setup of sports betting outlets.
The operators argued that this breached European Union law, a claim dismissed by the court on the grounds that individual jurisdictions have the right to establish their own gambling policies.
The court also upheld a rule mandating a 2,000m distance between venues owned by the same company to prevent local monopolies.