Following the recent elections, Mercè Claramunt Bielsa becomes the new Director General responsible for Gaming and Entertainment in the Catalonian autonomous government taking over from Xavier Guitart who has been head of the department until now. Mr. Guitart, whilst he was in that position, was able to increase the dialogue between the different Spanish regional communities, as well as strengthening the contact between the Administration and the representatives of the various business associations representing casinos, bingo halls and manufacturers of amusement machines.
The new Director of Gaming in Catalonia was born in 1955 and is a lawyer in Barcelona, specializing in civil and family cases. Politically she is on the board of the Catalonian Party of the Left - Los Verdes (ICV), moving into her department last Monday within the Ministry of Interior which is run by Joan Saura. At the time of going to press she was expected to hold her first meeting with the Catalan businessmen representing the gaming sector imminently, which will be a Technical Working Party on Gaming. Likewise in the Basque Country after fifteen years in the role of Director General for Gaming, Alberto Sanz has been succeeded by Aitor Uriarte. In his farewell address Alberto wanted to remember some of the things that have been significant during his time of management. In 1990 the White Book on Gaming was produced which served as the basis for the development of gaming in the Basque region. It served to open the doors for the Casino in Bilbao in 1995 and the production of the Gaming Machine Regulations in 1996. “The people change, but the structures remain and I am going away with the satisfaction of seeing a gaming sector that is more solid and mature in both its economic and financial respects”, said Alberto.
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