The popularity of location-based games continues unabated and is benefiting from the increasing use of mobile end devices and advantageous general conditions, such as the Internet of Things and the Smart City paradigm. This enormous potential of engagement should also be tapped for serious location-based games, i.e. the use of location-based games beyond the purpose of entertainment. The workshop “Applying and Facilitating Serious Location-based Games” aims to contribute to the development of this potential. In the article, the theoretical basis for this workshop is derived and corresponding frameworks are presented.