Operator News

Spain – Government to expand gaming in Castile and León

By Phil - 27 November 2017

The Vice President of the autonomous government of Castile and León, José Antonio de Santiago-Juárez,
has confirmed that the local government is working on changing local laws to allow more gaming licences for bingo, casino and slot halls.

The process for granting licences would be streamlined under current proposals to 24 hours as opposed to two months. Some of the new changes are expected to be implemented in 2018.

At present, there are a total of 16,512 bars and cafés in Castilla and León, which are licensed to operate gaming machines. The province of León has 3,522 establishments. This is followed by the cities of Valladolid (3,047). Salamanca (2,686). Burgos (2,356). Zamora (1,564). Ávila (1,103). Palencia (1,069). Segovia (660) and Soria (505), according data released by the local government.has asked the public to make “an effort to improve the social perception of gaming” linked to bingos, casinos and slot parlours.

Speaking at the XIV Congress of Gaming held in Zamora from November 14 to 15 Mr. De Santiago-Juarez said that perceptions of gaming in Spain were still outdated.

“During the years of the dictatorship, gaming was banned in Spain and that has left a negative perception on the collective unconscious. We must remember that there are a lot of issues in the 21st century that can create dependency, such as the internet, mobile phones, fashion, alcohol or sex.”Gaming needed to be regulated in order to prevent gambling addiction but overall was “a healthy leisure activity,” he said.

Around 300 people took part in the 14th edition of the Gambling Congress of Castilla and León, organised by the regional government and sponsored by the casino, bingo, slot parlour and the slot machine sectors. Attendees included representatives from a number of government institutions including tourism, the tax office as well as the gaming control board and members from both regional and national gaming companies.