SPAIN

CURRENCY: Spanish Peseta.

EXCHANGE RATE: Pts.146 = US $1.

OFFICIAL LANGUAGE: Spanish.

POPULATION: 37,430,000.

CAPITAL: Madrid.

INTERNATIONAL CODE: TELEPHONE 34.

CURRENCY CONTROLS: The Peseta is freely convertible and freely imported or exported up to Pts.500,000.Higher amounts may be imported or exported upon declaration and government approval.Foreign currency controls also apply, but amounts are unlimited upon declaration.The Banco De Espana, Alcala 50, 28013 Madrid is responsible for currency controls based on the currency control law: "Normative Sobre Inversiones Extranjeras".Casino winnings can be legally exported by paying the related taxes.

GAMING INFORMATION: Gambling was legalized in Spain in 1977.The Ministerio del Interior, Commission Nacional del Juego, Cea Bermundez 35,1 st Floor, 28071 Madrid became responsible for gaming based upon the law: "Relamento de Casinos BOE 20 DE 23.1.79".Prior to 1977 there was no federal regulation of gaming casinos.Since its legalization the growth and development of the Spanish casino industry has continued vigorously.

Spain now has 25 casinos: 17 on the mainland, plus six in the Canary Islands, and two in the Balearics.All persons must be at least 18 years of age to gamble.
The original Spanish law prohibited the establishment of casino operations inside cities with populations over 300,000.Therefore, casinos were built outside large cities such as Madrid and Barcelona, but close enough to attract their gamblers.Other casinos were founded in tourist oriented coastal resorts, or in old aristocratic castle like the distinguished Casino de Perelada.However, in 1995 the central government Ministry of Interior and its National Gaming Commission transferred its jurisdiction of gaming from the central government to the different Autonomous Regional Governments.i.e."Generalidad" of Valencia, "Generalidad" of Catalonia.
With this transfer of gaming control to the regional governments, the prohibition of casinos in cities over 300,000 is being reviewed.If this prohibition is eliminated, the Madrid and Barcelona casinos will mostly likely relocate to within their respective cities from their remote locations some 30 minutes away.
It you wish to keep up to date on the casinos and gaming industry in Spain get a subscription to Grandes Casinos De Espana, Fuentemilanos 2, 28035 Madrid (Spain).

Tel: (1) 316-3544.

Fax: (1) 386-6774.