On September 14, 2016, the Aachen City Council adopted a concept for the control of amusement arcades (link concept). According to this concept, amusement arcades are not permitted in residential, mixed and core areas in the city of Aachen. Gaming arcades are only permitted in Aachen's city center, specifically in parts of Peterstraße between Hansemannplatz and Kurhaus- / Blondelstraße (see illustration). A "concentration area" will be located there in future.
City of Aachen
This resolution updates the council resolution that has been in place since 1988 and takes into account current legal developments, in particular the Implementation Act for the State Treaty on Gambling applicable to the state of North Rhine-Westphalia.
Numerous regulations apply in particular to amusement arcades, which require a permit in accordance with gambling regulations in addition to the permit already required under the Industrial Code. In addition to other requirements, this permit is linked in particular to compliance with a distance of 350 meters as the crow flies from another arcade, as well as from public schools and child and youth welfare facilities. Multiple concessions, i.e. several amusement arcades in a structural combination (in particular in a shared building or building complex) are prohibited.
Exceptions to compliance with the minimum distances are permitted, however, if a concept adopted by the city stipulates that amusement arcades can only be located in a certain area. One such "concentration area" - in parts of Peterstraße - was approved by the council on September 14, 2016.
Some gaming arcades that have been in existence for some time are often grandfathered. The City of Aachen will carry out a planning law review of existing amusement arcades, particularly in connection with the creation or amendment of development plans.