The plenary session of the Parliament of the Canary Islands approved this Wednesday a non-legal proposition from Nueva Canarias (NC) to address "the social concern generated by the rise of betting shops and games, their significant impact among young people, mainly among those under 30, and the addictive behaviors generated by this activity." The spokesperson for the progressive nationalist group, Carmen Hernández, admitted the incorporation of a proposal from CC-PNC in which the State Administration is urged to regulate the advertising and sponsorship of these activities.
With the aim of preventing and responding "to the existing social concern," Nueva Canarias states that it has promoted various initiatives in recent days, from the Parliament and the Ministry of Finance of the Canary Islands Government, which have been ratified this Wednesday with the approval of the Non-Legal Proposition (PNL) on the Effective Regulation of Gambling and Betting in the Canary Islands against Addictions, defended by Carmen Hernández.
With the favorable votes of the groups of the quadripartite and CC-PNC, it was approved to request the Canarian Executive to halt, as a precautionary measure, the granting of new licenses to open gambling establishments until the entry into force of the relevant legislative reforms.
With the same 49 votes in favor and 13 against from the PP and Ciudadanos, the Legislative Branch requests that a table of experts be created, along with a citizen participation process, for a consensual reform of the sectoral regulatory framework as well as the implementation of sufficient information, prevention, and awareness campaigns in the various areas deemed necessary.
The same vote was repeated in the proposal with which the State Government is asked to increase the rate applicable to the tax on gambling activities for betting shops.
Regulate "effectively" the prohibition of access to minors
The formation points out that the majorities translated into unanimity to carry out three other NC measures in addition to the amendment accepted to CC-PNC. With those proposed by Carmen Hernández, it is requested that the prohibition of access for minors be regulated effectively, for which not only a reception service at the entrance of the establishment should be required but also a blocking system on the terminals, similar to the one existing in tobacco machines.
From the progressive nationalists is also the initiative for the municipalities to develop their competences in the matter through the Canary Federation of Municipalities (Fecam), in addition to demanding the State Administration to regulate, as urgently as possible, the advertising of all modalities of these activities in terms similar to that of tobacco.
The amendment added to the NC PNL urges the State Executive to develop the regulation of article 7 of the Gambling Regulation Law relating to advertising, sponsorship and promotion. Previously, according to this amendment, the Gambling Policy Council should be convened as a body for participation and coordination of the autonomous communities and the State.
