Although some independent communities like Aragón, Madrid and Catalonia have already developed or are rapidly developing various aspects to regulate this segment of the betting market in their respective autonomous regions, the Comunidad Autónoma Vasca (CAV) could be a pioneer within Spain in authorising the opening of betting shops and the installation of special machines on hotel premises.
The public call for bids on the part of the Basque Government for the award of the concession of the three licences for the operation of this activity is imminent. This bid offers a total of 75 betting premises and 1,500 machines. Each of the three companies that are granted a concession will have up to 25 establishments and 500 machines. These machines can be installed in hotels, but if the operator that is granted a concession has registered machines of type B in his inventory, he must ensure that the betting machines do not compete with AWPs, machines that it will be possible to operate in casinos, bingo halls and arcades. The three companies that are awarded the concessions in the public bid will have to have a registered office in the CAV, have share capital of E1M, provide a guarantee for half a million euros and have experience in the operation of legal betting and authorised gaming. Around a dozen companies will tender for the public bid and will enter a sector in which the Basques spend around E1,500m annually. It will not be possible to place bets on religious or political topics.
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