Castilla y León gambling bill sets eight-hour minimum venue opening period

A bill to reform Castilla y León's gambling and betting law is moving through the regional parliament, with political groups able to table amendments to its articles until 11 November, according to the parliamentary timetable set out for the legislation. The text proposes that dedicated gambling and betting venues follow the usual commercial opening practices of similar establishments, subject to a specific requirement: authorised hours must provide for a minimum of eight hours of daily public opening, without excluding further restrictions that may be set by regulatory development.

The bill also sets conditions on the exterior configuration of the venues. It provides that their doors remain closed in such a way that elements of the interior cannot be seen from outside. Both provisions form part of the rules in the bill and could still be modified during its passage.

Under the parliamentary calendar, the deadline for amendments to the whole text closes on 4 November, with the debate on them scheduled for 10 November. The period for registering proposed changes to the articles ends on 11 November. The Ponencia is due to work on its report on 19 and 20 November, and the Committee on Economy and Finance is then expected to consider the opinion between 25 November and 4 December. The process is scheduled to conclude with the final debate in the full chamber on 15 and 16 December.

Until then, the content of the reform remains subject to the parliamentary process and to changes the groups may introduce before final approval.