Castilla y León’s regional government plans to approve its Responsible Gambling Strategy in the second half of 2026, regional minister Luis Miguel González Gago said. The government also plans to approve five decrees covering casinos, bingo halls, gaming halls, betting and gaming machines.
Operators in Castilla y León will face a planned strategy and five updated regulatory decrees.
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Castilla y León's parliamentary groups could propose changes to the regional gaming and betting law reform until 11 November, according to the report. The draft would require gaming venues to open at least eight hours daily and keep their doors closed so interiors cannot be seen from outside; both provisions may change during the legislative process. The final plenary debate is scheduled for 15 and 16 December.
The reform of Castilla y León's gaming and betting law is nearing a decisive phase in the region's autonomous parliament. Political groups have until 11 November to register amendments to the articles of the legislative project. Within that window they will be able to propose changes to various provisions, among them the opening conditions for dedicated gaming and betting establishments.
Castilla y León's regional government proposed limiting payments at gaming venues to cash in a draft tax and administrative measures bill published on 29 October 2026. The restriction would take effect on 1 January 2027 if approved; industry objections cited possible commercial impacts and a lack of prior dialogue.
The regional government of Castilla y León has proposed restricting payment methods at gaming establishments to cash, through the draft bill on tax, financial and administrative measures for 2027. The proposal would amend Law 4/1998, which regulates gaming and betting in Castilla y León, to limit payments at these venues to cash for a period, with entry into force planned for 1 January 2027. The draft was published on 29 October 2026 and requires approval before taking effect.
Reportedly, Castilla y León had 16,092 hospitality venues authorised for gaming machines on 1 September 2026, down 95 from 16,187 in October 2025. Bingo halls fell from 17 to 16, betting shops from 14 to 13 and betting areas from 73 to 70, while gaming halls rose by one to 116 and the region kept three casinos. The data do not attribute the changes to a specific cause.
Castilla y León had 16,092 hospitality venues authorised for gaming machines in September 2026, down 95 from the 16,187 recorded in the October 2025 reference. Bingo halls in the region fell from 17 to 16. Licensed betting shops went from 14 to 13, while betting areas dropped from 73 to 70.
SAJUCAL president Carmen Rodrigo said a planned reform of Castilla y León's gaming law, due to take effect on 1 January 2027, would restrict payment methods to cash until new regulations are approved. She called for card payments, payment terminals, TITO systems and cash machines to be permitted, and for the law change to be coordinated with pending regulations. The association warned the measures would reduce hall profitability and put jobs at risk.
SAJUCAL has asked the Junta de Castilla y León to coordinate its reform of the gaming law with pending regulations, to allow alternatives to cash and to expand the range of gaming and complementary activities to safeguard business viability. The association wants gaming halls to be able to use the same payment methods as any other business, its president Carmen Rodrigo said. It is calling for alternatives to cash such as bank cards, payment terminals (TPV), TITO systems and cash machines to be normalised and brought into operation.
Reportedly, a panel at the XIX Congreso de Juego de Castilla y León in Soria examined regulatory criteria across gambling modalities, including ONCE, payment methods and B-type machines. Speakers called for market-wide data and reviewed regional regulatory differences. Rodrigo García, head of interconnection projects at Castilla y León, described linking B machines to central servers.
A panel at the XIX Congreso de Juego de Castilla y León, held in Soria, examined regulatory criteria affecting the different gambling modalities, including ONCE and payment methods, and the interconnection of B-type machines. The session, titled "Los distintos juegos de azar en la encrucijada: ¿evolución o reconversión?", was moderated by Fátima Pablos, director general of taxes of the Junta de Extremadura.