Extremadura sets official bingo hours for the first time

The Directorate General of Taxation of the Ministry of Finance, Public Administration and Social Dialogue of the Government of Extremadura has issued for the first time a resolution establishing the opening and closing hours of all authorized bingo halls in the autonomous community. The regulation, published in the Official Gazette of Extremadura number 158 of Monday, August 17, 2026, resolves a regulatory gap that had existed for decades in the Extremaduran gambling sector.

Regulatory framework and competences

The resolution (reference 2026062141) is based on the Statute of Autonomy of Extremadura (Organic Law 1/2011, of January 28), which grants the autonomous community exclusive competence in matters of casinos, games and betting. The Law 6/1998, of June 18, on Gambling in Extremadura, develops this matter, while Decree 131/2007, of May 22, approves the Bingo Game Regulations, whose article 20.5 empowers the competent Directorate General to determine the operating hours of the halls.

Until the publication of this resolution, bingo halls were governed by an order of September 16, 1996 from the former Ministry of Budget and Labor, which established hours for all leisure establishments without specificity for bingo. The new regulation replaces any reference to said order in current authorizations.

The established hours

The resolution, signed in Mérida on August 7, 2026 by the Director General of Taxation, Fátima Pablos Mateos, establishes the following scheduling rules:

• Period from October 1 to May 31: closing at 03:00 hours on the day following opening.
• Period from June 1 to September 30: closing at 03:30 hours. This same schedule shall apply during the period from Maundy Thursday to Easter Monday, as well as from December 24 to January 6.
• Weekends and eves of holidays: the closing time may be extended by an additional half hour on Fridays, Saturdays and eves of holidays.
• Mandatory rest period: a minimum of six hours must elapse between closing and the next opening.

Obligations for the halls

The regulation imposes on companies holding bingo hall licenses several obligations of immediate compliance. They must display a visible sign next to the entrance of the premises, and in any case in the admission and control area, with the opening and closing hours. The absence of this sign shall be considered a breach of the conditions of the authorization.

Likewise, the resolution reminds that, once closing time arrives, no bingo game may be started, access for new customers will be prohibited, and the venues must be completely vacated. All amusement machines, betting terminals, and screens must be turned off, and the sale of any consumer goods must cease.

Responsible gambling

The third article of the resolution reinforces the obligation of companies to ensure the effectiveness of responsible gambling policies, paying special attention to at-risk groups and providing the public with information for a conscious selection of gambling activities, promoting a moderate and non-compulsive attitude.

Entry into force and transitional regime

The resolution took effect the day after its publication, that is, August 18, 2026. For venues whose authorizations were in force on that date, the schedule established in their authorization or renewal resolution shall apply, and failing that, the general rules of the new regulation.

This regulation directly affects all bingo operators in Extremadura, a sector that operates under authorizations granted for periods of ten years, renewable. The clarification of schedules provides legal certainty both for companies in the sector and for customers, who now have a single, uniform schedule framework throughout the autonomous community.

Source: Official Gazette of Extremadura, number 158, Monday, August 17, 2026, Section III - Other Resolutions (official reference: 2026062141).