Today, October 24, at a meeting of the financial committee of the Daugavpils Duma, the issue regarding the restriction of the operation of gaming halls in the city was considered. The draft decision was supported unanimously.
According to the draft binding rules, in the administrative territory of the city it will not be possible to organize gambling in places and territories where the main entrance of the gambling hall is located closer than 150 meters from the nearest entrance of the following buildings:
– a building in which a self-government institution or a capital company is located, in which the council owns more than 50% of the capital shares;
– church, house of worship, place of worship;
– educational institution;
– post office;
– credit organization;
– place of social services and social assistance;
– multi-apartment residential building;
– service hotel;
– sports educational institution.
The meeting was attended by the chairman of the Latvian Gambling Business Association, Arnis Verzemnieks, in whose opinion these rules contradict the Constitution of Latvia and asked the committee members to stop their progress.
According to him, the number of gaming halls in Daugavpils has already decreased in recent years – from 15 in 2019 to the current 9, as many prefer to play in online casinos. In addition, the operation of gaming halls in the territory of the local government does not cause harm and does not threaten public interests.
It should be noted that in September the local government conducted a survey of residents on this topic. It was attended by individuals, several organizations, as well as gambling organizers and the Latvian Gambling Association.
The majority of respondents supported binding rules and the restrictions they set: these were mainly private individuals, as well as societies and other organizations representing fairly large groups of the population. Those who spoke in favor of the draft binding rules especially emphasized cases of violation of public order near specific gaming halls.
Objections were filed by three gambling organizers, the Latvian Gambling Association, as well as individuals (mainly employees of gambling halls, as well as people visiting these places).
Gambling hall employees claimed that this was a good place to work for many citizens. And the respondents who spoke out against and were not employees of gaming halls noted that they visit that part of the gambling establishments that are not associated with slot machines, and basically argued that it is important for them that the city has good, safe places of entertainment (not gambling halls). Therefore, it should be taken into account that the organizer of gambling can organize entertainment without gambling and such events will be in demand.
The final decision on this issue is planned to be made at the Duma meeting on October 31.
Source: www.gorod.lv
