Provinces of Burgos, León, Palencia, Segovia, Valladolid, and Zamora will have gaming points within different establishments spread across 67 localities.
April 12, 2025
Castilla y León |
Presidency Council
The game of ‘chapas’, traditionally practiced in Castilla y León between Maundy Thursday and Easter Sunday, is a deeply rooted custom in municipalities of all kinds, although it is in rural areas where it continues to thrive the most. It is believed that the origin of this game dates back to the draw made by Roman soldiers to decide who would get Jesus Christ’s tunic before his crucifixion.
The game involves the throwing of two coins known as ‘perras gordas’, which were traditionally 10-cent coins from the time of Alfonso XIII. Players gather around a circle led by the game organizer, known as the ‘baratero’, who must pay an administrative fee of just over 30 euros covering all practice days. In this context, players bet a set amount of money against a player acting as the bank and tossing the coins, trying to guess if both coins will land heads or tails. If the two coins show different sides, the play must be repeated until both match.
This game is regulated by the Junta de Castilla y León through two regulations: the Catalog of Games and Bets, which sets the rules of the game, and the Regulation governing the activity, which establishes its organization and the necessary administrative authorization for its practice.
The Presidency Councilor, Luis Miguel González Gago, has emphasized that “the game of ‘chapas’ is a key tradition that is part of the identity of Holy Week in numerous towns in Castilla y León. Therefore, the Council authorizes the preservation of this custom, providing legal security to its organizers, and protecting players from possible misconduct”.
The regulation governing the organization of the ‘chapas’ game establishes that all bets must be made with cash, prohibiting bets on movable or immovable property, or animals. It also allows the game to take place in both enclosed spaces and outdoors, always with the relevant municipal permits, under natural light and at a distance of over 100 meters from any educational center. However, this year there are no requests for outdoor practice.
Among the administrative infractions, organizing clandestine games, manipulating game materials, not paying players the amounts won, and disrespectful behavior towards participants are considered serious or very serious offenses.
In the words of González Gago, “this tradition represents, above all, a form of socialization and collective fun, and there should be no deception in its practice”.
Authorized Establishments
The Junta de Castilla y León has granted authorizations to 96 establishments for this Holy Week, a number that may vary slightly as there is still time for applications. These establishments are provincially distributed as follows:
9 in Burgos, in the towns of Boada de Roa, Fuentespina, Los Balbases, Melgar de Fernamental, Roa, and Villadiego.
30 in León, in the towns of Bembibre, Benavides de Órbigo, Cembranos, Cistierna, Gordoncillo, Jabares de los Oteros, La Bañeza, León, Mansilla de las Mulas, Palacios del Sil, Ponferrada, Sahagún, Sahelices del Payelo, San Andrés del Rabanedo, Santa María del Páramo, Trobajo del Camino, Valderas, Valencia de Don Juan, Veguellina de Órbigo, Villablino, and Villamañán.
25 in Palencia, in the towns of Aguilar de Campoo, Alar del Rey, Amusco, Buenavista de Valdavia, Cervera de Pisuerga, Espinosa de Villagonzalo, Herrera de Pisuerga, Lagunilla de la Vega, Lantadilla, Melgar de Yuso, Osorno, Palencia, Saldaña, Santibáñez de la Peña, Sotobaño, Priorato, and Venta de Baños.
5 in Segovia, in the towns of Ayllón, Cuéllar, Riaza, and Sacramenia.
23 in Valladolid, in the towns of Alcazarén, Carpio, Cigales, Herrera de Duero, Íscar, La Seca, Mayorga, Medina del Campo, Mojados, Nava del Rey, Tordesillas, Torrelobatón, Tudela de Duero, Valladolid, Villalón de Campos, Villanueva de los Caballeros, and Zaratán.
4 in Zamora, in the towns of Benavente, Olmillos de Valverde, and Santa Cristina de la Polvorosa.