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Barcelona freezes gambling: not a single new casino, at least for now
Barcelona is, for now, closing the door on the expansion of gambling in its territory. The City Council has decreed an immediate one-year — extendable — moratorium on granting licences to open new casinos, bingo halls or betting venues.
The decision follows a Supreme Court ruling that invalidates part of the 2021 Special Urban Plan, which sought to shield schools, health centres and youth spaces from the proximity of this type of business.
The Supreme Court has considered that the distance restrictions, although legitimate in intention, were not sufficiently justified from a legal standpoint. This has forced the City Council to rethink its strategy. Far from giving up, it is already announcing new urban planning regulations that meet all legal requirements but maintain their aim: to protect the most vulnerable from the risks of gambling.
During this regulatory interval, the city will not process new licences, halting any attempt to expand the sector. The suspension, published in the Official Gazette, takes immediate effect and affects the entire municipal area.