Gijón loses two of three betting shops since 2019

Gijón had one betting shop at the most recent count, down from three in 2019, according to data from the Principality of Asturias finance ministry. Two of the three establishments operating in the city closed between 2019 and 2025, the report said.

The latest census lists one casino, two bingo halls, 14 gaming halls and one betting shop in the city. In 2019 Gijón had one casino, the only licence of its kind in Asturias, two bingo halls, 13 gaming halls and three betting shops. A further gaming hall whose authorisation was already being processed brought the total to the 14 currently in operation, so opening another hall would require one of the existing authorisations to become available.

Of the three betting shops registered in 2019, one closed in 2021 and another in 2023, leaving one in operation in the most recent census.

The sector's development is shaped by a regional decree approved in 2021, which set limits on the number of authorised establishments using those active in 2019 as the reference. The measure followed a moratorium on new openings begun two years earlier, which paused expansion of these businesses until the new regulation took effect.

Asturian rules set a minimum distance of 100 metres between gaming establishments and educational centres, with restrictions on advertising in these environments. They also provide for access control systems, prohibit the installation of cash machines and limit financing and credit arrangements linked to these businesses.

Across Asturias, the data in the report put the land-based offer at 30 gaming halls, five bingo halls, four betting shops and one casino, alongside more than 3,500 hospitality establishments with a gaming machine.