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Neighborhood dispute: Gambling addict threatens violence after being banned from the house!
On July 9, 2025, Wismar will examine conflicts over bans in arcades and the challenges faced by addicts.
Neighborhood dispute: Gambling addict threatens violence after being banned from the house!
In Wismar at the moment everything revolves around the topic of house bans and the dark side of gambling. The arcade owner Bölkow is repeatedly exposed to hostility while his desire for a harmonious neighborhood fails. His neighbor Sandra Meier, in particular, has steadfastly tried to hold the casino accountable through the public order office, but so far without any significant success. But that's not all: the day before, Olli Freitag, a regular customer, was banned from entering the building.
Freitag, who is considered a gambling addict, is about to have his house foreclosed on. Despite his difficult situation, he was convinced that his luck at a slot machine was about to explode. However, it remains unclear whether he reacted violently when the ban was announced.
Legal situation and responsibility of the arcades
The legal aspects surrounding house bans are very relevant. A similar case, in which a consumer who was addicted to gambling demanded a ban from the house, was handled in a procedure by the consumer protection association. The operator of the casino was not obliged to comply with this request, which the court confirmed. Instead, the focus is on prevention. The legal regulation stipulates that arcades must develop appropriate social concepts, but are not obliged to actively deny access to addicted players. It is recommended that affected people be referred to prevention centers, which apparently did not happen in the Bölkow casino.
The issue of gambling addiction is also a social problem that has received increasing attention in recent years. Those affected can find a wide range of advice and help on websites such as www.bundesweit-gegen-gluecksspielsucht.de. The platform of the Federal Institute for Public Health (BIÖG) offers comprehensive information and support for gambling problems. Telephone consultations are available for those affected and can help you combat your own gambling addiction.
Commitment of the authorities
The responsible supervisory authority has not objected to the way in which players at risk of addiction are dealt with. The reference to help centers is considered sufficient to meet the needs of gambling addicts. The radical step of a house ban represents a gray area for many operators; further discussions and preventive measures seem urgently necessary here.
Overall, the situation in Wismar shows that dealing with gambling addicts is not only a personal problem, but also a social problem that must be solved through dialogue between those affected, operators and society. The development of responsible social concepts and the promotion of offers of help could be the key to a better community.