Emden council raises tax on violent video game machines to €620

The Emden city council has approved a rise in the tax on so-called violent video game machines from €310 to €620. The proposal came from the Greens. The report, published on 23 October 2026, cites the Emder Zeitung of 6 October as its source.

The report says the increase is linked to the abolition of a dance tax, which is to be offset through the amusement machine tax. Tax on standard amusement machines rises from €25 to €36. The report states that no shooting-game machines exist in Emden, and that it is probably the same elsewhere in Germany.

The report quotes councillor Bernd Renken of the Greens as saying: "Wir wollen die unerwünschten Geräte ja stoppen". It also quotes SPD faction leader Maria Winter: "Was die Menschen zu Hause machen, können wir nicht beeinflussen. Aber im öffentlichen Raum wollen wir solche Automaten nicht haben". According to the report, the FDP asked what the measure was intended to achieve in an era of games consoles and online games.

The report says the measure is unlikely to raise revenue for the city budget because no such machines are present. It adds that the SPD supported the proposal. The report does not give an appeal status or any further procedural steps.