- The municipal group GUK Getxo has advocated a "strict regulation" of the number and location of businesses that offer sports betting and gambling "in view of the concern that gambling problems are increasingly widespread in youth". A motion on the subject was discussed at the Getxo plenary on 26 December last, and was not finally adopted.
GUK introduced the motion on 29 October, World Day Without Gambling. Finally, it arrived in plenary on 26 December, but it did not because PNV, PSE and pp voted against.
One of the objectives of GUK was to demand stricter rules from the Basque Government. Specifically, they demanded that Lakua "limit the opening of the halls, establish the minimum distances between them, regulate their location with the educational centers and control their promotion in sports activities and public spaces", in line with what was done in other municipalities.
In the case of Getxo, the measures proposed by the motion were to educate the Municipal Police in the matter and to carry out awareness campaigns by the City Hall. In the words of GUK, "the expansion of these types of rooms in recent years is worrying, especially with regard to sports, which has accompanied an increase in the problems of pathological gambling, especially in people between 15 and 18 years of age".
"According to data from the Ministry of Health, in the last four years gambling addiction has risen from 6% to 25% in those under 25 years of age."
Those opposed to the motion pointed out that control measures similar to those requested remain in force and that the subject requires a comprehensive analysis.
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