# Insurance for amusement arcades, gaming venues and betting shops in Germany

> In an arcade there is cash in the machines, the change machines and the safe, often until late at night. That makes burglary, machine break-ins and robbery the main risk. Many insurers are cautious about this sector, which makes it all the more important to have a quote that really includes your cash.

Quelle/Source: https://www.nammert.com/en/business-insurance-gaming-arcade.php  
Updated: 2026-09-18

## Is the money in the gaming machines insured?

Only if the policy expressly says so. Many contents policies limit cash to low amounts and require it to be kept in a locked safe of a certain security grade. Cash in gaming machines and change machines needs its own item with a set limit, and robbery on the way to the bank has to be agreed separately again.

## At a glance

- **Compulsory:** No insurance is required by law for the business; the gambling authority checks your licence, distance rules and social concept, not your insurance
- **Biggest risk:** Burglary, machine break-ins and robbery, with cash in the machines and till
- **Basic cover from:** about 150 to 350 euros a year for public liability for an arcade
- **Statutory accident insurer:** Compulsory membership of the relevant Berufsgenossenschaft (statutory accident insurer), for arcades and betting shops usually the VBG
- **Often forgotten:** Cash in machines and change machines: standard policies often only cover cash up to a few hundred euros
- **WZ 2025 / NACE:** 92.00 Spiel-, Wett- und Lotteriewesen

## What goes wrong in this trade

- **Machine break-ins:** The thieves come at night, force open machines and change machines, and do more damage to the equipment than the cash they take.
- **Robbery:** Late in the evening, one supervisor alone in the shop: robbery is not a fringe risk in this sector, and for the employee it counts as an accident at work.
- **Fire and technology:** Many machines run around the clock, plus screens, drinks fridges and ventilation. One cable fire shuts down the whole business.
- **Vandalism:** Frustrated players smash displays or kick machine fronts. Malicious damage is not included in every policy.
- **Disputes over supervision:** A guest falls, an argument escalates, the supervisor steps in: claims from guests and accusations against staff do happen.
- **Closed doors:** After a fire or water damage the arcade is shut, but the licence continues and so does the rent. Every day without trading costs turnover.

**Risk radar** (Compared with other trades, 1 low to 5 high.): Liability 2, Fire and water 4, Theft 5, Cyber 3, Downtime 3, Health 3

## The insurance you need

- **Business contents** (Essential): Insures machines, fittings and cash against burglary, robbery, vandalism, fire and water, provided cash and machines are expressly included. https://www.nammert.com/en/insurance-broker-business-contents.php
- **Business liability** (Essential): Covers injuries to guests and damage to the rented premises, for example from water or fire. https://www.nammert.com/en/insurance-broker-business-liability.php
- **Business interruption** (Strongly advised): Pays rent, wages and lost profit while the arcade stays closed after an insured loss. https://www.nammert.com/en/insurance-broker-business-interruption.php
- **Electronic equipment** (Strongly advised): For your own machines, till and CCTV equipment against operating errors, power surges and short circuits, if they are not rented. https://www.nammert.com/en/insurance-broker-electronic-equipment.php
- **Cyber insurance** (Depends on the business): For networked machines, betting terminals and till systems, where an attack stops the business and affects customer data. https://www.nammert.com/en/insurance-broker-cyber-insurance.php
- **Business legal expenses** (Depends on the business): For disputes with the landlord, the authorities or employees, for example over dismissal or a rent reduction. https://www.nammert.com/en/insurance-broker-business-legal-expenses.php

## What it costs: example prices

Insurers see arcades as a higher burglary and robbery risk. Premiums therefore depend mainly on location, security systems, opening hours and the amount of cash insured. Good security lowers the premium noticeably.

| Insurance | Example | Typical range |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Business liability | Arcade or betting shop with two to five employees | about 150 to 350 euros a year |
| Business contents | Fittings and machines worth 100,000 euros, cash up to 10,000 euros in the safe | about 1,200 to 3,000 euros a year |
| Business interruption | Business interruption up to twelve months, added to the contents policy | about 300 to 800 euros a year on top |
| Cyber insurance | Small business with networked tills, 250,000 euros cover | about 350 to 700 euros a year |

For comparison: Liability and contents cover together cost about as much a year as one month's rent for a small shop unit in the town centre.

_Guide figures excluding insurance tax, as of September 2026, based on published tariff examples for comparable businesses and our own quoting experience. There are hardly any published premiums for arcades themselves; some insurers decline the sector, and we obtain the exact quote for you._

- [transparent-beraten.de: business contents insurance](https://www.transparent-beraten.de/geschaeftsinhaltsversicherung/)
- [transparent-beraten.de: cyber insurance](https://www.transparent-beraten.de/cyber-versicherung/)

## Our suggestions: three packages

- **Betting counter** (small betting shop without its own machines): Business liability, Business contents. Together: about 500 to 1,200 euros a year
- **Arcade** (arcade with its own cash and supervision until late): Business liability, Business contents, Business interruption. Together: about 1,600 to 4,000 euros a year
- **Multi site** (operator with several arcades and networked technology): Business liability, Business contents, Business interruption, Electronic equipment, Cyber insurance, Business legal expenses. Together: from about 5,000 euros a year, depending on the number of sites

## The worst day at the arcade

Six things that really happen at arcades and betting shops, all on a single day. Tap through the day and see who pays.

- 04:20: Burglars lever open the back door and break into four machines and the change machine. The stolen cash plus repairs to the machines. (€16,000, Paid by: Business contents)
- 10:00: The arcade stays closed for three days for the police forensics team and because of the broken machines. (€7,500, Paid by: Business interruption)
- 14:30: A guest slips on spilt coffee and breaks a hip. (€12,000, Paid by: Business liability)
- 17:45: A power surge after a thunderstorm: the till system and CCTV equipment are broken. (€5,800, Paid by: Electronic equipment)
- 20:10: A player smashes two displays in anger and disappears. (€3,400, Paid by: Business contents)
- 23:40: The betting terminal reports an attack, customer data has been stolen and a forensic IT specialist has to come in. (€9,000, Paid by: Cyber insurance)

**Damage so far:** €53,700

## Practical tips from your broker

- Be open about how much cash is kept where: machines, change machines, safe and till each need their own limit.
- Clarify the security requirements before you sign: safe grade, alarm linked to a monitoring centre, CCTV. If they are missing, the insurer often does not pay.
- Have vandalism after a burglary and malicious damage by guests expressly included.
- Insure cash in transit to the bank separately if your staff take the money there themselves.
- Rented machines are often insured by the supplier who placed them: get this in writing, otherwise there is a gap.
- Prepare your staff for robberies. After a robbery the Berufsgenossenschaft also pays for psychological support, so always report it.

## Why NAMMERT for your business

- **We find insurers who will write the risk:** Not every insurer takes arcades. As a broker we know where an enquiry has a chance and spare you a string of rejections.
- **We read the security clauses:** After a burglary, the small print on safes and alarms decides everything. We go through it with you before a loss, not afterwards.
- **Claims experience from our own settlements:** In boat insurance we handle claims ourselves, including theft and vandalism. We use that knowledge if your insurer hesitates after a burglary.
- **No fee, one fixed contact:** The insurer pays our commission. You deal with a family business that has had the same phone number since 1989.

## FAQ

### Why is it hard to insure an arcade?

Because many insurers avoid the burglary and robbery risk. But there are providers who write the sector with clear security requirements.

### Is a robbery of the supervisor covered?

The stolen money is covered by contents insurance if robbery is included. The employee's injury is an accident at work, which is the responsibility of the Berufsgenossenschaft.

### Who insures rented gaming machines?

Often the supplier who placed them. Agree in the contract who bears the damage to the machine and the cash inside after a break-in.

### Is insurance compulsory for arcades?

No. The gambling authorities check the licence, distance rules and player protection. Liability cover still makes sense, and many landlords require it.

### Does insurance pay if the authorities close the arcade?

No. A closure ordered by the authorities because of a missing licence or changed distance rules is not an insured loss.

### What does insurance for a betting shop cost?

For a small betting shop without its own machines, usually about 500 to 1,200 euros a year for liability and contents. More cash and longer opening hours increase the premium.

## Request quotes

We obtain quotes and come back with a comparison. Free of charge and without obligation: the insurer pays our commission. You can write in English. https://www.nammert.com/en/business-insurance-gaming-arcade.php#anfrage

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NAMMERT Assekuradeur GmbH, insurance broker licensed under section 34d(1) of the German Trade Regulation Act, broker register no. D-C08Q-TOSD4-37. For boat and yacht insurance we act as underwriting agency, not as broker.

NAMMERT Assekuradeur GmbH, Karl-Marx-Straße 4, 15711 Königs Wusterhausen, +49 3375 29 12 77, info@nammert.com. Wikidata: Q141141479.