The private gaming sector hopes that Bustinduy's arrival will open a stage "away from prejudices and ideological biases"

   MADRID, 24 Dic. (EUROPA PRESS) -

The Business Council of the Gaming Sector (CeJuego) hopes that with the arrival of Pablo Bustinduy to the Ministry of Social Rights, Consumption and Agenda 2030 "a new stage of dialogue and understanding will open, far from prejudices and ideological biases."

This is indicated by the Business Council of the Gaming Sector, in an interview given to Europa Press, to take stock of the 2023 financial year and address the challenges facing next year 2024.

In this sense, as to whether the recent disappearance of the Ministry of Consumer Affairs headed by Alberto Garzón is good news for the sector, the Council understands that "it is due to political and organizational issues" and that, in reality, what has occurred It is a merger of two ministerial portfolios in the same entity, since Social Rights and Consumption become under the responsibility of a single Ministry.

Regarding the management of former Minister Garzón, the Council "deeply regrets that these recent years have been characterized by constant attacks" towards its sector. "During his time at the head of the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Mr. Garzón undertook a personal battle against gambling, loaded with ideological biases and stereotypes to demonize a leisure activity like any other practiced by millions of Spaniards," he argues.

However, the private gaming sector hopes that "with the arrival of Minister Bustinduy to the Ministry, a new stage of dialogue and understanding will open, far from prejudices and ideological biases." "At CeJuego, we will always have a hand extended to the public administration to work in favor of Spanish society," he emphasizes.

Likewise, the sector considers that the formation of a new Government "opens the doors to finding new ways of understanding with political decision-makers" and remembers that it has "always" been willing to collaborate and work together with legislators "to achieve sensible policies." and effective responsible gaming policies based on legislation that makes the economic activity of a sector that employs tens of thousands of people compatible with the necessary and legitimate user protection.

"We are open to dialogue with all political forces - both nationally and regionally - to convey to them the reality of our sector and help them better understand the economic and business activity that we carry out throughout Spain," they insist to Europa Press.

In this context, he hopes that in 2024 the public administration, political parties and the media address gaming activity "from objectivity and responsibility, moving away from prejudices and false mantras that exist about the sector."

"In addition, we hope that the discrimination to which private gaming is subjected with respect to public gaming will be put to an end once and for all. It is not normal for restrictive measures to be imposed against a single part of the sector. Private gaming is subject to a series of repressive rules and regulations that, in an unjustified manner, are not applied in public gambling, generating an asymmetry in the same economic sphere," denounces CeJuego.

In relation to the balance that CeJuego makes for this year 2023, it highlights that private gaming employs 47,000 workers; creates about 85,000 direct jobs, a figure similar to that of 2017; and B machines in hospitality support 40,000 jobs. "Adding the rest of the indirect jobs, we reach 170,000 jobs," he adds.

Finally, in terms of revenue, private gaming contributes, between special fees and taxes, more than 1.7 billion euros to public coffers, according to the figures collected in the 2023 Gaming Yearbook.