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Barcelona suspends gambling licenses after court ruling
Barcelona will no longer issue new licenses for casinos, bingo halls, and gaming venues as a result of Spain’s Supreme Court annulling part of the city’s 2021 plan that set strict rules on where gambling spots could open.
According to El Mundo, the original plan banned the opening of new gambling venues near schools and places like youth centers and health clinics. The court said these rules weren’t fully justified and must respect business freedoms and regional laws.
The Supreme Court ruled:
“The regulations must be carefully justified, proportionate, and respectful of the principles of free market and freedom of establishment, as well as the current regional sector regulations.”
Barcelona’s strict rules were part of public efforts to combat gambling. Since 2019, Barcelona has limited gambling ads on buses and in public spaces and made city-funded groups follow addiction prevention measures.
But with the court’s decision, the city council has to rethink its rules to balance public health concerns with legal limits on business regulation. The city’s deputy mayor said they are suspending new licenses so no gambling venues will open while they review the situation.
Tension around gambling has recorded growth in Barcelona. In 2024, the local ombudsman criticized the city for hosting a gambling conference, saying it doesn’t comply with the city’s determination of gambling prevention.
Now, with the license freeze, Barcelona is taking a clear stand to slow gambling growth while it figures out how to move forward within the law.
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