UNAD Renews Call for Total Gambling Advertising Ban in Spain
Spain’s Network for Addiction Care (UNAD) has renewed its demand that all gambling and betting advertising be outlawed across the country.
LISTEN TO THIS ARTICLE:Speaking as the organisation published its latest treatment figures, UNAD president Luciano Poyato said: “Promoting gambling is fundamentally at odds with prevention”, adding that “anyone can be susceptible to addiction, particularly when exposure starts at a young age”. The network argues that advertising and sponsorship by the gambling industry normalize hazardous behaviour and undermine public-health prevention efforts aimed at young people and other vulnerable groups.
UNAD is calling for a blanket ban that would cover television, radio, print, digital platforms, social media and sports sponsorship. The organisation also wants fast-tracked regulation that would introduce limits on online deposit amounts and stricter controls on the physical presence of betting outlets, which it says are proliferating in many Spanish cities.
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The call accompanies UNAD’s recent study, Profile of People Served in the UNAD Network, which reports that 1,304 people were treated for non-substance addictions across 24 member organisations. Women accounted for 24% of those treated; most female patients were Spanish nationals over 49, in employment and with dependent children. Their primary in-person problem was slot machines, followed by bingo, while video gaming was the main online issue.
By contrast, the more typical male profile identified by the network is a Spanish national aged between 34 and 41, usually employed and often without children. Men’s treatment cases were also dominated by slot machine problems, followed by sports betting, both in-person and online. UNAD stresses that non-substance addictions – including gambling, betting and problematic gaming – rarely produce visible physical symptoms, which delays detection until harms become entrenched and harder to reverse.
UNAD acknowledged recent regulatory movement from Spain’s Directorate General for Gambling Regulation (DGOJ), pointing to a draft resolution that updates technical standards for responsible gambling messaging under Royal Decree 958/2020. While welcoming these steps, UNAD said they fall short of what is needed to prevent commercial communication from reinforcing addictive behaviours and increasing uptake among minors and young adults.
Beyond an advertising ban, the organisation is pressing for harmonised regional rules so protections are consistent across Spain’s autonomous communities. UNAD also advocates for stronger limits on the number and location of betting shops, tighter sponsorship rules for sports and cultural events, and mandatory, enforceable deposit caps for online wagering platforms.
Public-health specialists and addiction services have long warned that repeated exposure to advertising increases the social acceptability of gambling and can accelerate the transition from casual play to problem gambling. UNAD says prevention programmes should be expanded and resourced to promote healthy leisure alternatives for youth and provide early-intervention pathways for those showing signs of harm.
How regulators will respond remains unsettled. The DGOJ draft introduces technical requirements for responsible messaging but stops short of an advertising prohibition. Regional governments that regulate venue licensing and local planning will play a central role in any effort to rein in betting-shop growth or to harmonise protections across jurisdictions.
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UNAD’s demands are likely to intensify debate among public-health advocates, industry groups and policymakers. Key issues for regulators will include balancing consumer protections with commercial freedoms, determining the legal scope of an advertising ban, and coordinating national and regional measures so protections do not vary widely by community.
With treatment numbers and complaints continuing to feed pressure for stricter controls, Spain could face tougher regulatory choices in the months ahead. UNAD’s call is a clear signal that one part of the public-health community believes incremental measures are insufficient and that comprehensive limits on commercial gambling promotion are necessary to protect vulnerable populations.
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