Andalusia votes gaming bill down

The Parliament of Andalusia voted against a new gaming bill, which barely had the support of two lawmakers’ groups, while the majority was against it.

Spain.- Lawmakers in Andalusia have decided against a proposed gaming bill. The local Legislature voted against the PSOE’s proposal, which had very little support.

The only groups in the Parliament of Andalusia in favour of the proposed gaming bill were Adelante Andalucía and PSOE. It was the latter, precisely, who pushed the bill to the floor but could not gain the support of the rest of the groups.

“We want to ban gaming rooms less than 500 meters away from educational centres,” said PSOE lawmaker Soledad Cabezón. “And preventing them to be less than 250 meters from one another.”

The Ciudadanos group in Andalusia criticised the gaming proposal, as its the federal government’s competition.

“We do not understand why the PSOE didn’t bring this proposal when it was in charge of the Government. It seems that they have many duties to do,” said Andrés Ramón Sámper.

The PP legislators block, meanwhile, said it is a “simplistic” proposal.

Protests against gaming

Gambling remains a hot debate topic in Spain despite its success and contributions to state coffers. That’s why over 1,500 people took to the streets on major protests against gambling halls in Madrid. They mainly asked the government to close them.

“We were watching La Sexta at home and there were 10 sports betting ads in seven minutes of advertising. Journalists, artists and footballers appear on them. There are more problem gamblers than people think,” news outlet El País quoted a protester.

The protest was called by the Platform against gambling halls in Madrid. It gathers 168 groups in the capital and the Autonomous Community.

There are 385 gambling halls in Madrid and the Spanish Association of Gambling Halls highlighted its investment possibilities.

“The gambling industry doesn’t seek an unfair profit,” the gambling segment assured. “Neither to take advantage of the unprotected or the youth,” they added.