The Governing Council of the Basque Country has approved New Gaming Machines Rules.

Highlights:

- Authorized number of type B machines in arcades rises from 1,500 to 2,500
- For the first time there is an article (num. 6) completly dedicated to Internet halls.
- Bingo halls and casinos may be authorized as betting shops.
- The article number II incorpores the concept of Responsible Gambling
- This Regulation introduces some changes into classification of gaming machines type B

1. They can be:
2. B for bars
3. BM or Multiplayer for arcades, bingo halls and casinos.
4. BC or shared
5. BS for arcades, bingo halls and casinos
6. BG only for bingo halls

- It also stated the rules for the folllowing Auxiliary Machines:

a) Lottery tickets (Article 17)

b) Coupons and random lottery (Article 18)

c) Betting (Article 19)

- Four-months trial period for testing machines

- Operating Companies can be individual or a legal entity

- Anti-trust Limitations: No Operating Company may hold more than one thousand operating permits (Article 43.1)

- New operating licenses for bars, nightclubs and discos will be granted after 31 December 2012. However, operating permits might be granted to replace machines that are taken out of operation during the year.

- The authorization referring to machine installation validity cannot be less than three years nor more than six.