The move is the brainchild of new CEO Axel Herr (pictured), who has a background in the consumer gaming market, most notably with Nintendo, and who feels that the trade associations in Germany are behind the times.

“In casinos, payout machines with mechanical reels disappeared years ago,” Herr commented. “At the same time, the Game Boy generation, which is now grown up, is enthusiastic about video and PC games with highly intelligent, interactive software and high-end graphic design. Why should tomorrow’s players expect less from payout machines? And if these also get more and more complicated, this will result in additional deterring effects on occasional players, especially in the catering sector,” he added. “In short: outdated reel technology sure doesn’t work anymore.”

An additional criticism levelled at the two trade associations by Herr is that they are dominated by their biggest member – not mentioned by him by name, but known to be the Gauselmann Group.

“For a long time, I’ve had the impression that there is one big steamship running ahead of these associations with a strictly directed course. We will pull out of this convoy because we think an immediate change of course is urgently required for the sake of economy,” he stated.

Herr has the full support of Bally Wulff Managing Director Dr Christopher Höfener, who said of the decision to quit, “We want to be a reliable partner for our customers. That is why we don’t want to and cannot allow ourselves to act like the others. On the contrary, we’ve got to set off against our competitors with a clear profile. And we are sure to find support from our customers.”

To this end, Bally Wulff will remain a member of the operators’ association, the BA, and plans to intensify its involvement both with this and local German operators’ associations.

“Our withdrawal from the VDAI and DAGV is no withdrawal from responsibility,” concluded Herr. “On the contrary, Bally Wulff is still very keen on an intensive exchange with all interest groups from politics and the economy. We regard it as our task to face the change, which will inevitably come to us due to the players’ changing needs, and see it as a chance for an active reshaping. This is in the interest of our company, our workforce, our customers and trading partners, and in the interest of the entire industry.”

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