Why are politicians so predictable? Because they are transient - only there for a limited time - they always presume that no-one ever recognised their tactics for what they are…..

In Germany the politicians are telling the industry that in five years’ time its multi-licensed premises will have to have a single licence. Instead, therefore, of the German arcade with five big rooms each with 12 machines in and holding five licenses to justify it, they will have to hold just one licence.

That clears up the anomaly, of course, but when it comes with the kick in the pants that says the single licence in five years will still only permit 12 machines and that each licensed arcade must be a minimum of 500 metres from its neighbour, then we have the prospect of Doomsday for the German business.

What’s really going on is that the politicans have one eye on the press (always negative about the arcades) and the elections in 2013, so they are doing something which they think makes them look good. They know, and we all know – because we have seen it so many times before in other countries – that there will now be a long-winded session of horse-trading. The industry will ask for 15 years before the changes and 50 machines to a single licence. The bartering will then take place and it will end up at something like eight or 10 years and 30 or 40 machines.

We all know it is going to happen; both sides know how the game is played. Why not sit down now and save everyone a lot of time and trouble (and expense with lawyers) and get it sorted out in a couple of hours of debate?