Valencian Community Allows Casinos To Reopen

Valencian Community allows casinos, bingo and gambling halls to reopen
The Superior Court of Justice of the Valencian Community (TSJCV) announced on Thursday, April 15 that it would temporarily suspend the closure order against bingo halls, casinos and other gambling establishments due to the low levels of coronavirus infections in the region. The magistrates agreed that the reopening of these businesses will not “cause a serious disturbance of the general interests” once appropriate safety measures are adhered to.
To this end, casinos and other similar venues will be allowed to open at a maximum capacity of 30 per cent indoors, with no more than six people to a table. In addition, a distance of two metres must be maintained between tables and consumption at the bar is prohibited.
The Association of gaming casinos of the Community welcomed the decision of the Court, which could not find “justification or sufficient motivation to maintain the closure measure without prejudice to possible different future situations that determine that the administration adopt the precautionary measures it deems appropriate.”
The Gaming Business Council, CeJuego, the main private gaming employer in Spain, has been pleading with the Valencian regional government for months to open gambling venues and establishments in the region, as they were the only ones that remained closed in all of Spain. The Council argued that the closure order affected some 133 Valencian companies, amounting to 7,000 direct jobs in the community. The sector has estimated losses of €129 million to date.
Last month, the local government in Malaga gave the green light to a proposal to change the General Urban Planning to limit the activity of casinos, bookmakers and gambling halls in the region. The aim of the new procedure is to establish a more restrictive regulation regarding the location of these premises, namely minimising access to them for the younger population.
Source: Europa Press