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Gaming Machines in the Hospitality Industry

Here you can read about the conditions for operating gaming machines in the hospitality industry

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Presence Permit

To place gaming machines in your hospitality establishment, you need a presence permit .

This permit is issued by the Mayor of the municipality where, for example, your café is located. This does not immediately mean that the gaming machines may be operated; they may ‘be present’.

In addition, an operating license is also required (read: more about the operating license here).

Do you want more information on how to best set up your hospitality business to meet all the requirements for the permit, or do you want to object to a rejection?

Conditions
  • Licensed hospitality establishment under the Alcohol Act
  • The café and restaurant visit stands on its own and where no other activities take place that can be assigned independent significance.
  • The activities are largely aimed at persons aged 18 and older.

Conditions and restrictions can also be attached to the permit. The permit always includes the condition that only gaming machines may be set up which belong to persons who possess an operating license.

The presence permit is often issued for a specific period and can vary in duration from 12 months to 4 years. A permit for an indefinite period is also possible.

When applying for a new permit, the Municipality assesses whether the conditions as described under Requirements have been met. It is not always clear whether the establishment actually qualifies as high-threshold.

The composite establishment, where part of the café qualifies as low-threshold and part qualifies as high-threshold, often leads to discussion with the Municipality when processing an application. If the establishment qualifies as low-threshold, the presence permit for the Gaming Machines is often rejected. It is possible to arrange your business in such a way that your hospitality establishment still qualifies as high-threshold. For more information, you can also read the Gaming Machines Guide prepared by the Gaming Authority in cooperation with the Association of Dutch Municipalities (VNG).