People Protest against Mushrooming Betting Shops in Spain

A number of citizens gathered across cities in Spain to protest against the rampant increase in the number of betting shops. They demanded “decent” leisure activities as alternatives.

According to a spokesperson for the platform that organized the march, Adrián Belaire, the main goal of the protest was to set off a “constant, daily and committed struggle” to achieve “the end of the betting shops, which are destroying our neighborhoods.”

Sports personalities and celebrities sell their images to publicize gambling, a sector that moves enormous sums and whose growing presence on streets and online has sparked alarm among those who see gambling as the next big addiction, the Efe news reported.

The betting market has undergone an upward progression in Spain since 2014. The latest Directorate General for Gambling Regulation (DGOJ) data suggests that online gambling grew between 2012-2017 by 387 per cent, going from 2.8 billion euros ($3 billion) to over 13 billion euros.

The most populous demonstration was held in the capital Madrid – in central areas where betting shops have proliferated recently, some of them close to schools.

Protesters are advocating for the “total elimination” of this type of business.

“We”re not after any kind of regulation. 20 bookmakers are a problem, but one alone is too,” he said.

“These places cannot exist in the city or in the neighbourhoods because they”re always going to be next to leisure centres, primary schools, high schools, libraries or parks,” said Belaire, who said the situation in Madrid was a reflection of a problem that exists throughout the country.