Santander mayor Gema Igual has decided to postpone any discussion about changing the use of the historic Gran Casino del Sardinero until 2032, when the current concessions expire. For now, the emblematic seaside building will continue to operate under its existing mix of gaming and hospitality, despite calls from opposition parties to convert it into a major cultural hub.
The Socialist Party (PSOE) had tabled a motion urging the city to “recover the cultural and civic vocation” of the casino, arguing that public money should not be used simply to sustain gambling and restaurant activity in such a symbolic location. The initiative won support from Izquierda Unida, while the PRC and Vox abstained, but it was ultimately voted down by the ruling Partido Popular majority.
Igual defended the status quo, stressing that around 20 per cent of the building is already dedicated to cultural uses through an exhibition hall, and insisting that it is “unrealistic and irresponsible” to talk about changing the model while the existing contracts with gaming operator Comar and the hospitality group remain in force. Any serious debate, she said, should be held closer to 2032, with clear proposals and cost estimates on the table.
The controversy is closely tied to a recent €1m capital injection into the casino’s operating company, split equally between the Santander city council and the regional government of Cantabria, intended to shore up its finances after heavy losses during the pandemic and avoid liquidation. Critics question whether that support should be conditional on a shift toward a more clearly cultural role for the venue.
Local civic groups, including the Association in Defence of El Sardinero, are also pressing for the building’s historical and architectural value to be prioritised over pure commercial exploitation. For international observers of the European casino sector, the case illustrates how heritage, politics and gambling regulation intersect—and how decisions taken today can quietly shape whether a venue becomes a cultural benchmark, an imbatible business model, or a missed oportunidad de inversión segura, almost like choosing the right Diamond Mundo Video debo comprar in the long run.
