Crucial moment for bingo game in Spain

According to data provided by the Madrid Employers' Association ASEJU, from 1Q2021 to 1Q2019 the decrease suffered was -51.35%, the fall was reduced little by little, going to -26.25% in 4Q2021 compared to the same period of the year. year 2019.

It remained at -22.20% in 2Q2022 compared to 2Q2023. Total sales at CAM Bingo, although recovering, still suffer the impact of COVID.

Decreasing by -16.57% in 4Q2022 in relation to the same period of 2019, until the last known data from 2Q2023 which represented -15.09% in comparison with the same period of 2019.

The number of rooms open in the CAM has also suffered a sharp decline, going from 132 in 1981 to 105 in 1995 to 78 in 2002, from 55 in 2010 to 47 in 2014 and 37 rooms open today. of the year 2023 (43 authorized), a negative historical record in the CAM and well below the 55 that the Employers' Association estimates should remain open.

Those that survive have opted to renew their product, achieving a greater number of leisure options and the incorporation of a young adult audience, who are beginning to consider Bingo as one of their leisure options, adapting to a more complete at very affordable prices.

The gaming rooms, on the contrary, have had an inverse progression, going from 176 rooms in 2006 to 270 in 2014 to 459 in 2019 and 525 in 2022.

The Bingo and machines industry in Spain is at the forefront worldwide, with a powerful R&D&I industry with quality employment and maintaining a recognized prestige at a national level.

It is true that direct and indirect jobs in the CAM Bingo halls have suffered, going from 7,920 workers in 1982 to 5,760 in 1999, continuing the negative trend, in 2009 it fell to 3,780, continuing with 2,820 in 2015 to 2,580 in 2021 and the current 2,460 in 2023, despite the attempts of the Trade Union Centers of the sector and ASEJU to jointly implement favorable measures for the improvement of Bingo.

Precisely the expenses inherent to the high staffing per establishment mean that this expense has been difficult to assume for many companies, which have closed or opted for other establishments with fewer staff and inherent structural expenses.

Bingo has the lowest rate of problem gambling, being the social and family game par excellence, with a cost per customer of €22, a high level of quality employment per establishment, its own collective agreement and granting more than 99% of the games with prizes of less than €1,000, deserves the adoption of measures that it has been demanding to avoid worsening its crisis.

Without detracting from some of the measures adopted by the CAM for Bingos, which have been positive and have avoided delving even further into the crisis, the next decisions regarding the regulatory treatment of Bingo will be key for its future, the Employers' Association points out.

The social agents are preparing a package of measures for the Ministry of the Environment, Agriculture and the Interior, on which the game depends, to be presented in the coming weeks.