Murcia adds electronic bingo to regional rules, becoming the 11th community

The Region of Murcia has amended its Bingo Game Regulations to add electronic bingo and electronic bingo hall, the Confederation of Employers of the Game of Bingo (CEJ) confirmed. Fernando Henar, president of the CEJ, described the rule change as a step that modernises the offering, improves halls’ competitiveness and attracts new player profiles; with this decision eleven Autonomous Communities now permit these modalities.

What changes in Murcia and which modality is introduced

The regional regulatory reform includes two electronic formulas: electronic bingo (a complementary modality) and electronic bingo hall. The Region of Murcia maintains traditional bingo as the principal modality and classifies the electronic variants as complementary within the catalogue of authorised in-person gaming.

The new regulatory texts introduce greater flexibility in configuring electronic bingo and set technical and control requirements for its operation. The stated objective in the regulation and in the CEJ’s assessment is to provide security, transparency and reliability in the provision of these modalities.

The CEJ assessment and Fernando Henar’s position

Fernando Henar, president of the Confederation of Employers of the Game of Bingo (CEJ), gave SECTOR a positive assessment of the reform.

“This is excellent news. Murcia joins other territories that have been incorporating these modalities and that have had very positive reception,” Henar said in the exclusive interview.

Henar explained that adding the electronic component helps modernise and diversify the bingo offer, providing new options to users and strengthening halls’ competitiveness. He expressly noted that the technical and control requirements contribute essential elements to generate trust among customers and preserve the reputation of the game and of halls.

Expected impact on halls and on demand

The CEJ bases its assessment on the experience of other autonomous communities that already allow electronic bingo. According to the organisation, modalities that combine physical cards with electronic elements tend to register greater demand and are gaining ground over proposals based exclusively on physical cards.

The coexistence between the traditional offering and the new electronic modalities can provide commercial momentum to halls and help attract different audience profiles. The CEJ considers it likely that this trend will be reproduced in Murcia, although the effective evolution will depend on adoption by operators and customers.

Technical requirements, control and competitiveness

The regional reform establishes new technical and control requirements for electronic bingo systems. Fernando Henar referred to these requirements as necessary to guarantee operational security and auditability, and said they will facilitate halls’ technological transformation.

The elements cited by the CEJ cover prize management and the rules for return to player, although the public communication does not detail the specific technical specifications included in the regulation. The organisation emphasises that the combination of technology and flexible rules will be key to halls’ competitiveness in a demanding market.

Regulatory changes the CEJ recommends for the future

The CEJ considers it appropriate that regulation continue evolving with criteria of technical flexibility that allow the incorporation of new technologies and formats, always with guarantees of security and transparency. The organisation proposes keeping frameworks that facilitate modernisation without forgoing controls that protect the integrity of the game.

It also advocates an approach that recognises the coexistence of traditional bingo and electronic variants, so halls can offer both formats and attract different audiences.

Autonomous-context: 11 communities with electronic bingo

With the entry into force of the reform in the Region of Murcia, eleven Autonomous Communities now offer electronic bingo and electronic bingo hall options. The CEJ interprets the figure as confirmation of a trend toward more technological and flexible regulatory models in the in-person gaming sector.

Formal recognition of these modalities in several communities has led operators and technology providers to review their commercial proposals and product offerings for halls, seeking solutions that integrate physical cards and electronic support systems. For sector companies, technical harmonisation and regulatory clarity in each community remain operationally relevant issues.

What operators and suppliers must prepare

The CEJ and its president note that the new regulation requires operators and suppliers to adapt control systems and to demonstrate technical and audit compliance. Practical tasks include:

1. Integrating solutions that allow coexistence between physical cards and electronic screens or terminals.

2. Ensuring control records and traceability that meet administrative requirements.

3. Adjusting prize management and return-to-player calculations according to criteria imposed by the regulation.

For operators interested in regulatory and market effects, coverage of regulation and sectoral analysis of b2b provide context on how other communities have managed the transition.

Conclusion

The reform of the Region of Murcia’s Bingo Game Regulations incorporates electronic bingo and electronic bingo hall as complementary modalities, bringing to eleven the number of communities with these options. The Confederation of Employers of the Game of Bingo values the measure as a stimulus for halls’ modernisation and competitiveness, provided regulation keeps technical controls and transparency that give confidence to users and operators.

By Miguel Sandoval, Regulatory Correspondent. Originally published in SECTOR.