González Gago announces review of game regulations in Castilla y León

Luis Miguel González Gago, Minister of the Presidency of the Junta de Castilla y León, announced at the opening of the XIX Castilla y León Gaming Congress in Soria the launch of a review of the autonomous community's game regulations. In his remarks on 21 October 2026 he said the region has 12.195 authorised machines, more than 450 companies in the sector, around 2,000 direct jobs and an approximate contribution of €60 million annually to public coffers.

Regulatory review announced at the congress

The minister presented the review as a process to evaluate the existing regulatory framework, not merely to introduce new rules. He explained that the Administration intends to verify the practical operation of current rules, identify difficulties in their application and assess their effects on companies and users. González Gago emphasised the need for a framework that balances economic activity and social responsibility, and noted that the review must be reconciled with user protection.

At the opening the figure of 12.195 authorised machines was explicitly cited as one of the data points prompting the regulatory update and the adaptation of procedures to new technological and business realities. The minister argued that any amendment must be based on knowledge of the activity and on comparing experiences among the different stakeholders involved.

Economic figures and employment in Castilla y León

The land-based gaming sector in Castilla y León comprises more than 450 companies and generates around 2,000 direct jobs, according to the figures provided at the congress opening. The activity contributes approximately €60 million annually to the autonomous community's public finances. González Gago presented these numbers as evidence of the sector's integration into the regional business fabric and of its impact on the economies of numerous localities.

The minister insisted that land-based gaming is a regulated activity, subject to authorisation, control and inspection mechanisms, and that any regulatory adjustment must respect those procedures.

Prevention and care: the 2027–2030 strategy

The Junta de Castilla y León is working on a proposal for a prevention and care strategy for the 2027–2030 period. The declared objective is to coordinate the actions of the different administrations and entities involved to strengthen protection, awareness, detection and care.

González Gago reported that the registry of persons prohibited from accessing gambling in Castilla y León has approximately 15,046 registered persons. He mentioned that figure with caution and asked that it not be interpreted with broad extrapolations, while stressing the need to maintain constant attention on prevention mechanisms.

Dialogue with operators and technological adaptation

The minister explained that, in recent months, the Junta has held technical meetings with industry representatives to learn about needs and collect proposals on regulatory implementation. That exchange seeks to identify practical problems and provide elements to assess possible regulatory modifications, while maintaining the Administration's responsibility for decision-making.

González Gago highlighted the importance of learning from the experiences of other autonomous communities and of comparing policies. In his speech he called for the regulatory review to take into account the incorporation of new technologies and emerging operating models, and he pointed to the need to revise procedures so that regulation responds to these new market realities. Part of that dialogue with the sector concerns the regulation of amusement machines and control and authorisation processes.

The congress as a meeting place

The XIX Castilla y León Gaming Congress brought together public officials, companies, associations and professionals to address the evolution of subsectors, changes in consumption habits and business transformation. González Gago thanked the participation of business organisations and representatives from the various administrations, as well as the work of professionals responsible for supervision and control.

The minister concluded by inviting attendees to use the meeting to share experiences and compare perspectives on the future of land-based gaming, maintaining commitments on regulatory compliance, social responsibility and user protection. The Junta also announced that work related to the prevention strategy and the regulatory review will be coordinated with sectors such as public health, social services, education and consumer affairs, and with social entities and business associations. Technical and administrative information on policy design and registries will be addressed in specialised forums and administrative venues, in line with the objectives expressed at the congress and in prior meetings with operators and sector associations. For regulatory matters it has been proposed to maintain channels of dialogue that allow proposals to be evaluated before any formal approval of regulatory changes and to continue the technical work started by the Junta in recent months (regulation).