Cejuego voices disapproval towards the administration.
The Spanish Gaming Association Cejuego (Council of the Gaming Industry) is harshly criticizing the government for postponing the reopening of physical gaming centers until the third phase of Coronavirus lockdown relaxation measures. Spain has had all its gaming establishments closed since March 14 as part of the COVID-19 lockdown. As the pandemic situation in Spain shows signs of improvement, the government has eased some restrictions.
A gradual exit from the lockdown is planned, with some establishments allowed to reopen in certain regions. The latest update sees gaming establishments in consideration for the final phase of the process. The Spanish gaming regulatory body DGOJ (Directorate General of Gaming Regulation) has warned operators not to reopen until given the go-ahead by the government.
By June 1st, only the Canary Islands of El Hierro, La Gomera, and La Graciosa, as well as the Balearic Island of Formentera, had been categorized in Phase Three, allowing gaming establishments in these regions to reopen.
Sector feels unfairly treated
Cejuego strongly condemns the decision to delay the reopening of gaming establishments until the last phase. The industry feels they are being singled out and treated like bars and retail stores, which have already been allowed to reopen. "The lockdown measures are being imposed in a discriminatory manner, and we feel discriminated against as a sector," said Cejuego CEO Alejandro Landaluce.
Cejuego also slammed some of the safety measures that gaming establishments must adhere to after reopening. The Health Ministry announced that gaming halls can only operate at 50% capacity. Additionally, no more than 50 people, including staff, can gather inside. The association labeled these requirements unreasonable. According to Spanish media, it was stated:
"We don't understand why a limit of 50 people applies to gaming halls, regardless of the capacity of the room. This isn't a measure based on health concerns, and it's not applied to other gambling-related activities."
Measures don't make sense
Landaluce added that it would be challenging to reduce staff and eliminate parts of the workforce. Spain has about 47,000 employees in the gaming industry, with another 174,500 related jobs tied to the market. Gaming establishments such as bingo halls and casinos require a considerable number of staff. The measures are often incompatible with reopening.
For many employees, these measures would mean further time off, which is difficult to explain, according to Landaluce, as workers in other sectors with similar characteristics are being allowed to reopen. Uncertainty continues to build daily. We are awaiting a fair announcement that allows the event venues and employees to prepare for the opening. The government has yet to make a statement.
Arcades facing challenges
The Coronavirus-related closure order is hitting Spanish land-based arcades at a difficult time, as the country works on reducing the presence of arcades. The city of Barcelona led the way in October 2019 by announcing plans to cut down on arcades. The city council put forth a regulatory proposal to reduce the number of arcades and betting shops. The step was intended to "jolt the government."
The regulatory proposal preceded a police raid in early October, which gained media attention under the name "Operation Arcade." 1,881 of the more than 3,000 Spanish arcades and betting shops were inspected. The police recorded 28 minors and 184 adults who couldn't identify themselves. Four arrests were made.
October also saw Mallorca in focus, with authorities setting up a monitoring team to oversee the arcades in the Balearic Islands' capital. Inspections are performed, such as ensuring entrance controls are enforced. Officials complained that too many arcades were being established in Mallorca. The capital Palma is now one of the cities with the highest density of arcades in Spain.
Gambling law tightening
The Spanish coalition government PSOE-Podemos had been working on tightening the gambling law before the Coronavirus crisis. Regularly, new regulations were issued in both land-based and online gambling. Regarding arcade restrictions, police chief Javier Molinera spoke out against strict regulations, warning about overzealous restrictions.
In an interview with the Spanish news agency EFE, Molinera emphasized the safety of the Spanish gambling market and cautioned against overly strict regulations. The police chief said that a total of 13 agents, three special units, and 85 other employees are operating in all regions of Spain to ensure safety. "We work to ensure that the player plays responsibly and has access to a safe leisure activity," the police officer said.
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Source: www.onlinecasinosdeutschland.com
