Castile and León to update land-based gambling rules

Castile and León will update its land-based gambling regulations and approve a responsible gambling strategy, as the Spanish region moves to modernise rules governing private gambling venues.

The Regional Government said the changes will apply across casinos, bingo halls, gaming arcades, betting shops and gaming-machine operators. 

The reform is intended to address regulations that remain based on frameworks introduced between 2005 and 2014, while adapting oversight to changes in technology and retail gambling habits.

The regional gambling sector includes 149 dedicated venues, comprising 115 gaming halls, 17 bingo halls, 14 betting shops and three casinos. It also covers 12,176 authorised machines and 408 businesses operating in the autonomous community. 

The sector generates around 2,000 jobs and more than €60m ($70.2m) a year in regional taxes and fees.

The new Responsible Gambling Strategy is expected to become the main policy tool for prevention, access control and coordination with affected groups. It follows Castile and León’s 2024 gambling law reform, which amended minimum-distance rules between gambling venues and schools, and strengthened controls around minors and vulnerable people.

Castile and León also created a Technical Commission for Responsible Gambling Coordination in 2025, with responsibility for coordinating regional policy and supporting prevention and treatment work around gambling harm.

The wider Spanish market remains split between national online regulation and regional control of land-based gambling. 

At national level, the DGOJ opened consultation in May on possible amendments to Spain’s Gambling Act 13/2011, including advertising controls, payment restrictions, supplier registration, player-protection measures and enforcement against illegal gambling.

For Castile and León operators, the reforms also include digital processing for administrative procedures, intended to move licensing and communications with the administration onto electronic channels.

The move follows tighter regional controls elsewhere in Spain, including Valencia’s approval of a “zero-growth” framework for new gaming halls, betting shops and bingo venues.