BRATISLAVA, July 18, (WEBNOVINY) — President Ivan Gasparovic signed the revision to the law on gambling and, thus, gave the go-ahead to the ban on slot machines in pubs as of 2013. The new rules simultaneously forbid smoking and alcohol consumption at gaming facilities. Authors of the revision, the Christian Democrats, are hopeful that the revamped wording of the law will help reduce pathological gambling.
As of September 1 of this year, establishing a gaming house, casino, betting shop or a charity lottery will require the approval of the municipal council. The interval between individual games on a slot machine will be extended from three to four seconds. After a gambler wins a game, a new one will not start in less than 15 seconds after the previous session ends, in order to discourage gamblers from impulsive gambling. Also, pathological gamblers will be prohibited entry, if they or their relatives request it.
Entrepreneurs operating in the gambling business in Slovakia warned before the amendment was approved that it would eliminate thousands of jobs and cause a shortfall of funds in budgets of municipalities and the state budget amounting to as much as EUR 40 million.
The revision will take effect on September 1 except for the ban on smoking and alcohol consumption at gambling facilities and the ban on slot machines in pubs, which will come into force on January 1, 2013.
SITA