AESA Aragón demands competitive equality for gaming halls against SELAE and ONCE
AESA Aragón asks State and regional governments to align hours and fiscal rules
Key Takeaways
- José Antonio Rubio, president of AESA Aragón, said there are 121 gaming halls in the community and that this number has remained stable.
- Rubio highlighted that halls apply access checks prior to participation, unlike SELAE and ONCE where checks often occur when claiming prizes.
- AESA Aragón has asked the State to equalise conditions between public and private gaming and asked the region to review closing hours.
- The economic impact of halls in Aragon was estimated at approximately €517 million, with €6 of regional activity generated for every €1 received.
AESA Aragón has asked for equal conditions for the [121 gaming halls](/casino) operating in the community, said its president José Antonio Rubio in an interview with COPE Aragón linked to the ANESAR Board meeting held last week in Zaragoza. Rubio explained the figure of 121 venues has remained stable in recent years and that recent regional rules make opening new premises in urban centres more difficult, so he expects the number to remain largely unchanged.
Differences versus public gaming
Rubio compared private gaming halls with public operators, explicitly naming the Sociedad Estatal de Loterías y Apuestas del Estado (SELAE) and the Organización Nacional de Ciegos Españoles (ONCE). He noted that halls apply access checks prior to participation, whereas in lotteries and ONCE checks are carried out in certain cases when prizes are claimed. He also criticised advertising restrictions that affect private gaming compared with campaigns by other operators in public spaces.
Claims to the administrations
AESA Aragón has submitted requests to both the State and the regional Administration. To the State it asks for the equalisation of conditions applicable to public and private gaming. To the regional Administration it requested a review of closing hours: currently halls may close at 02:00, while bingo venues are allowed to close at 04:00. Rubio argued that the different in-person subsectors should have more homogeneous hours and requirements, because they share part of the offering.
Economic impact and sector context
The president of AESA Aragón estimated the economic impact of hall activity on the Aragonese economy at approximately €517 million. According to his statements, for every €1 these establishments bring in, €6 is generated for regional economic activity. Rubio also noted that some of Aragon's largest venues are bingo halls that have progressively expanded their offering toward the gaming-hall model.
The interview is part of a series of three meetings carried out by COPE Aragón with industry representatives on the occasion of the ANESAR meeting in Zaragoza. The first instalment featured the president of ANESAR, José Vall, and the next will include the association's technical secretary general, Juan Lacarra.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many gaming halls are there in Aragon according to AESA?
There are 121 gaming halls in Aragon, a figure José Antonio Rubio, president of AESA Aragón, said has remained stable in recent years.
What operational difference does AESA highlight between halls and public lotteries?
AESA Aragón says halls perform access checks prior to participation, while SELAE and ONCE typically conduct checks in certain cases when prizes are claimed, according to Rubio's comments to COPE Aragón.
What specific request does AESA Aragón make about closing hours?
AESA Aragón requests the regional Administration review closing hours because halls may close at 02:00 while bingo venues can close at 04:00, seeking greater homogeneity across in-person subsectors.
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About the author
Gonzalo Marín
Industry Deals Correspondent
Gonzalo Marín covers the corporate deal flow of gambling — operator strategy, M&A, regulated-market entries, and product launches. The reports open with the transaction, cite companies, valuations, and jurisdictions exactly as released, and keep the announcement apart from its actual effect. When a Latin American operator raises capital or a European brand lands in the region, Gonzalo Marín reports who signs, for how much, and on what terms.
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