The requirements for the approval of gambling devices are regulated in §§ 12, 13 and 14 of the Gaming Ordinance (SpielV).

Requirements for the approval of gaming machines

§ Section 12 of the Gaming Ordinance requires, among other things, that the gambling machine submitted for testing must

• winnings must be paid out in such an amount that, when viewed over the long term, no higher amount than 33 euros per hour remains as cash content,
• the chances of winning are random and equal for each player,
• at the beginning of a break in the game, all amounts in the coin and winnings memory are automatically paid out, and
• it is possible to document all stakes, winnings and cash contents for tax purposes.

The following additional licensing requirements are specified for gaming machines in Section 13 of the Gaming Ordinance:

• The minimum playing time is five seconds. The stake may not exceed 0.20 euros and the winnings may not exceed 2.00 euros.
• If the interval between two bets is extended beyond five seconds up to a maximum of 75 seconds, the bet may be increased by a maximum of EUR 0.03 per full second. If the interval between two winnings payments is extended beyond five seconds up to an upper limit of 75 seconds, the winnings may be increased by a maximum of 0.30 Euro per full second. Increases of stakes and winnings beyond this are excluded.
• The sum of losses (stakes minus winnings) may not exceed 80 euros in the course of one hour.
• The sum of winnings less stakes may not exceed 500 euros in the course of one hour.
• After one hour of operation, the gaming machine shall take a break of at least five minutes, during which no bets shall be accepted and no winnings shall be awarded. The start of the gaming pause may be delayed as long as winnings significantly exceed stakes.
• The storage of funds in stake and winnings memories is limited to a total of 25 euros when money is accepted from the player. Higher amounts are paid out automatically immediately after they are posted. There is an operating device for the player with which he can set in advance whether posted amounts are to be wagered uninfluenced or whether each individual wager is to be made by operation. In addition, there is a non-lockable operating device for payout, with which the player can dispose of the posted amounts, which are greater than or equal to 0.20 Euro in total, without restriction.
• The gaming operation may only be carried out with coins and banknotes denominated in Euro and only directly at the gaming device.
• The gaming machine contains a control device that records all stakes, winnings and cash contents in a timely, direct and readable manner. The control device shall ensure compliance with limits on stakes, game duration, winnings and losses.
• The gaming device and its components must be built to function reliably and securely against modification in accordance with the state of the art.
• The gaming device must be constructed in such a way that the conformity of the replica devices with the approved design can be verified.

Special requirements for the approval of product play equipment

Section 14 of the Gaming Ordinance is relevant for amusement arcade machines, in which similar requirements as for the approval of amusement arcade machines apply.