Agents from the UPA discovered an illegal bingo operation in a bar in Torremolinos with over 40 players every Sunday. Participants received cards by paying for a drink and could win anything from money to trips.
The National Police assigned to the Junta de Andalucía has put an end to an illegal bingo game that was held every Sunday in a bar in Torremolinos. In the venue, which has a capacity for more than 40 people, customers played with cards they received upon purchasing a drink and were eligible for prizes that included trips.
Surveillance and detection of illegal gambling
Agents from the Gaming and Public Shows Area of the UPA established a surveillance operation around the establishment after receiving information about the activity. Over several weeks, they confirmed that a large number of people gathered inside on Sunday afternoons.
The venue, a bar in the coastal town, lacked a license to organise gambling activities. According to the investigation, the games were advertised verbally among regular customers.
Technology and traditional cards
The bingo combined modern and classic methods. The numbers were displayed on a television screen installed in the bar, and participants could follow the game from their mobiles. To do this, they scanned a QR code that gave them access to an online application where they could automatically mark the numbers.
Those who preferred the traditional method received physical cards when they paid for their drink. The mechanics were simple: the bar owner called out the numbers or they appeared on the screen, and players marked their cards or used the app.
Prizes of all kinds and harm to competition
The prizes were not symbolic. The Police have confirmed that trips were awarded among the winners, in addition to cash and other gifts. The exact amount of the prizes has not been disclosed, but the investigation suggests it was attractive enough to retain customers.
The organisation of this bingo without authorisation generated significant profits for the establishment, according to the UPA. Furthermore, it posed unfair competition to other businesses in the area that comply with regulations and have the necessary licenses to operate.
"This illegal activity harms entrepreneurs who invest in licenses and comply with the law," sources from the investigation state.
Legal consequences and penalties
The Police have recorded the infringement and proposed an administrative sanction against the bar's owner. Fines for organising gambling without authorisation can reach up to 600,000 euros in Andalucía, according to the region's Gambling Law.
The case has been referred to the Government Delegation of the Junta in Málaga, which will be responsible for processing the sanctioning file. For now, the bar has ceased bingo activities, although it remains open as a hospitality establishment.
For the residents of Torremolinos, the news serves as a warning: playing bingo in an unlicensed bar is not only illegal but can also lead to penalties for participants. The Police remind that illegal gambling is not regulated and that prizes are not guaranteed.
The operation is part of the UPA's control efforts to eradicate illegal gambling in the province. So far this year, several illegal games have already been dismantled on the Costa del Sol.
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