Spain’s Gambling Operators Must Display Warning Messages
Spain’s Ministry for Consumer Affairs has introduced a new regulation requiring online gambling operators to display warnings about gambling addiction.
LISTEN TO THIS ARTICLE:The move is part of an update to Royal Decree 958/2020, which aims to address rising concerns about problem gambling in the country.
The warnings, which replace softer phrases like “play responsibly,” are now mandatory across online gambling platforms, including games, banners, and social media marketing. The government is also considering a ban on celebrity endorsements for gambling, signaling a broader push to protect vulnerable populations.
New Messages to Highlight Risks
The regulation was announced by Minister for Social Rights Pablo Bustinduy during a safer gambling event in Madrid, requesting operators to include messages such as “Gambling addiction is a risk of gambling,” “The probability of being a losing gambler is 75%,” and “Losses for all gamblers are four times greater than their winnings.”
These statements draw from 2024 research by the Spanish Ministry for Health, which revealed that 82% of treatment admissions in 2022 were linked to gambling addiction.
The responsibility should not fall on users but on the authorities, who have the democratic duty to ensure that the environments they access are safe. The new measure would help prevent gambling addiction and problem behaviours before they occur.
The country’s National Drug Plan, which informed the new warnings, highlighted the prevalence of both online and in-person gambling, particularly among younger demographics.
Bustinduy criticized some gambling companies, calling their practices “unscrupulous” and accusing them of exploiting vulnerable individuals. The new warnings aim to make the risks of gambling clear to users before they engage, with the goal of reducing addiction rates.
Related: Spain Introduces New Gambling Regulations in Order to Protect Young Adults
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Industry Criticizes New Regulations
Spain’s gambling trade body, JDigital, quickly criticized the measure, arguing that comparing gambling to tobacco is misleading.
In a statement to Infoplay on October 2, JDigital called the regulation “difficult to justify,” noting that online gambling in Spain is already heavily regulated and monitored.
Despite the pushback, the rule took effect immediately as part of the updated Royal Decree, which governs gambling marketing and communications.
This is not Spain’s first attempt to curb gambling-related harm. In November 2020, the government banned sponsorship deals and welcome bonuses, though these restrictions were partially lifted in April 2024, allowing operators to resume using celebrities and introductory offers.
Now, Bustinduy is advocating for reinstating the celebrity endorsement ban, though no timeline for this change has been confirmed. The move comes as part of ongoing discussions in Spain’s Congress, where lawmakers are weighing stricter measures to protect young people and other at-risk groups.
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