- The Basque Government, concerned about the increased interest in gambling among young people, will review the planning of the General Game Rules. Until the new rule arrives, new gambling halls will not be allowed to be opened.
The provisional measure, which may be extended for up to nine months, shall not affect any of the permits already granted. The spokesman for the Basque Government, Josu Erkoreka, stressed that the upsurge among young people has become a problem and that the procedures for opening new halls need to be reviewed. The Security Advisor, EstefanÃa Beltrán de Heredia, said that the aim is to avoid the problems of dependency caused by the game.
Similar measures were taken by both the Government of Navarra and the City of Pamplona last year: no new authorizations for the opening of rooms will be granted on a provisional basis.
Citizen movement
The citizens' movement against betting houses has denounced these rooms in recent times. The Judimendi Joko Aretoa Ez platform in Vitoria-Gasteiz, the Elkar-Ekin group in Azpeitia or the neighbours of the Txantrea in Pamplona have been fighting gambling halls for months.