SBC News Voice of the Sports Betting Industry
Barcelona’s City Council has ruled that it will not permit the opening of any new gambling establishments, arcade, bingo hall or casino, as communicated in a statement sent to Catalunya’s municipal government.
Barcelona’s executive states that it will trial its mandate for a period of one year in support of the city’s health networks dealing with addiction, and further underling that ‘gambling establishments have to be put in order’.
Establishing its mandate, the city council states that it seeks to improve the screening of vulnerable citizens, helping the remit which is undertaken by Catalunya’s new Department for Ageing, Health Care and Social Mobility.
At present, Barcelona maintains 53 gambling venues of which 35 are arcades, in addition to 17 bingo halls and the ‘Casino Barcelona’ complex operated by Grup Peralada.
Barcelona’s Council states that it has drafted an ‘Urban Plan’ monitoring the activities of gambling establishments, which will no longer be allowed to advertise their premises or services throughout the city’s public venues and TV and radio broadcasting services.
Further addiction prevention measures will see Barcelona establish a new educational programme operating across schools, which will be funded by annual grants contributed by the city’s licensed gambling incumbents.
