Last month, Madrid President Isabel Díaz Ayuso announced a temporary suspension on new gaming licenses in the Spanish territory. The suspension, to be approved soon, will expire within a year, during which time the executive government will study the proliferation of these venues.
According to the president, the measure is aimed at protecting young people and at-risk community members from the ills associated with gambling. But the planned prohibition won’t affect applications that have been already processed, and before January 1 2020, 22 gaming venues are expected to open in Madrid.
Data released by Díaz Ayuso shows that gaming venues in the region have increased by 125 percent since 2014, with 678 facilities registered, including bingo halls, casinos and betting shops.
