Barcelona suspends new gambling venue licences for one year
Barcelona City Council announced an immediate suspension of new licences for gambling halls, bingo venues and casinos across the city, reportedly in response to a recent Supreme Court ruling. The suspension will last one year and may be extended for another year while the council drafts a new urban plan. The court annulled parts of the 2021 plan, including venue-distance restrictions, for lacking sufficient technical justification and exceeding municipal powers.
Operators cannot obtain new venue licences in Barcelona during the suspension as the council drafts a replacement urban plan.