Legislation
Spain – Mallorca’s second licence runs into trouble
By Phil - 17 February 2014
Despite having only been approved in December, the Gran Casino Theatre Balear, winner of Mallorca’s second casino licence has already run into legal problems that could prevent it being built.
The second Urban Planning Council of Palma City Council has approved a report stating that the current blueprint for installing the casino at Bingo Balearic Theatre in downtown Palma in Rosello Olivar market Square violates the uses outlined for the historical centre.
The Deputy Mayor for Planning and Housing, Jesús Valls, said there was a ‘legal and technical reality’ that led them ‘to this impediment.’ The report rejects said it would be a violation to develop the casino Bingo Balearic Theatre under the current plans due to three key elements, the proximity of nearby residents, its size of more than 300 meters and the fact that it is not allowed to offer parking in the same building.
Having applied to extend its offering in 1990 and 1999, Mayor Valls said the operator should have known this would prove the case. “They cannot plead ignorance,” he said.
The Gran Casino Theatre Balear won a three horse race to secure the second casino on the island of Mallorca in December, beating off competition from German company Merkur and Nervion, the operator of the existing casino in Porto Pi in Palma. The winning venue would have cost €10m and created 170 jobs. It would have seen the renovation of the old theatre bringing a casino, conference, restaurants, bars and an auditorium to the space and included 70 slots and 13 gaming tables and bingo provided by Eusebio Cano.
Suggesting that the developers might yet be able to amend its plans, Mr. Valls added: “It is the responsibility of complying with the zoning parameters that allow the installation of the casino in the Balearic promoter Theatre. If they meet all the parameters, the license cannot be denied, and neither could be granted if it does not.”
The report on the site ‘will be issued when the specific characteristics of the project are known.’
