The Generalitat Valenciana has approved a comprehensive gaming decree that preserves the restrictive approach established since the 2020 Gaming Law, effectively maintaining one of Spain's most stringent regulatory frameworks for land-based gaming operations.
The new regulation, based on a social and health impact study conducted by the Conselleria de Economía in collaboration with the Conselleria de Sanidad, extends the moratorium on new gaming venues while introducing several administrative modifications to existing oversight mechanisms.
Slot Machine Restrictions Reinforced
Under the decree, no new type-B slot machines will be authorised for hospitality venues, except in specific circumstances already covered by existing regulations, such as equipment replacements or certain administrative renewals. The framework also prohibits the transfer of machines from casinos, bingo halls, or gaming salons to hospitality establishments.
This measure builds upon the containment strategy implemented since the 2020 Gaming Law entered force, designed to limit the proliferation of gaming opportunities in commercial settings.
Gaming Venue Moratorium Continues
The decree maintains the existing prohibition on new gaming salons and betting shops. Authorisations will only be granted when relocating an existing establishment that currently operates within the minimum distance required by Gaming Law from "protected" centers.
This provision introduces a new relocation pathway that could enable operators to move venues away from sensitive areas – a possibility not previously contemplated under existing regulations.
For bingo halls, the Generalitat will also prohibit new openings except in cases of relocation of existing venues. The regional government justifies this stance by highlighting that the Valencian Community has one of the highest concentrations of such establishments in Spain, with 1.22 halls per 100,000 inhabitants – nearly double the national average of 0.68.
“This decision is justified by the need to find a balance between citizens' access to legal leisure activity, the exercise of business activity and the protection of vulnerable groups.”
— Generalitat Valenciana
1.22
Bingo halls per 100,000 inhabitants in Valencia
0.68
National average bingo halls per 100,000 inhabitants
20 years
Maximum duration for voluntary gaming exclusion
6 months
Minimum duration for voluntary gaming exclusion
5 years
Maximum timeframe for new situational study
5 years
Purging threshold for inactive venue registrations
Administrative Framework Updates
The decree introduces temporal limitations for voluntary registrations in the Registry of Persons Excluded from Access to Gaming, establishing a maximum duration of 20 years and minimum of six months.
Additionally, the regulation implements a purging mechanism for the General Gaming Register affecting hospitality establishments authorized to install recreational machines that remain without valid authorizations for more than five consecutive years. This prevents indefinite registration of venues no longer operating gaming activities.
Compliance Monitoring
Operators should audit their venue registrations regularly to avoid automatic purging from the General Gaming Register. Venues without valid authorizations for over five consecutive years will be removed from official records, potentially complicating future licensing applications or renewals in the same locations.
Evaluation Mechanism Established
The new framework requires the competent gaming authority to prepare a fresh situational study within a maximum of five years. This assessment will evaluate the effectiveness of adopted measures and determine whether to maintain, modify, or revoke them based on sector evolution and prevention results.
The Consell argues that exposure to land-based gaming offerings in the Valencian Community continues exceeding Spanish averages across most analysed subsectors, supporting the continued restrictive approach.
Strategic Planning Window
The mandatory five-year evaluation cycle creates predictable review periods for Valencia's gaming restrictions. Operators can align their strategic planning with these assessment windows, as regulatory changes will only occur following comprehensive impact studies rather than ad-hoc policy shifts.
Market Implications for Operators
Valencia's decision to extend its containment model signals a sustained regulatory preference for limitation over expansion in Spain's gaming landscape. The framework's five-year evaluation cycle suggests operators should prepare for medium-term restrictions rather than expecting near-term liberalisation.
The relocation provisions for non-compliant venues offer the sole pathway for gaming establishment movements, potentially creating opportunities for strategic repositioning while maintaining overall supply constraints. However, the administrative complexity and limited scope suggest this will benefit only specific operators facing distance requirement violations.
For the broader Spanish gaming market, Valencia's approach may influence other autonomous communities considering similar restrictive gaming regulatory measures, particularly given the decree's emphasis on social impact assessment as regulatory justification.
