Spain Proposes Tobacco-Style Warnings for Gambling Advertisements
Significant Drop in New Gambling Accounts Linked to Advertising Restrictions
Recent research highlighted a substantial decline in new online gambling accounts in Spain, decreasing by 55% from 3.01 million in 2020 to 1.35 million in 2023. This sharp reduction is largely attributed to the country’s strict regulations on gambling advertisements and the prohibition of promotional bonuses, policies that saw partial relaxation in 2024.
The Scale of Gambling Addiction in Spain
New data from 2022 reveal that 82% of individuals seeking treatment for behavioral addictions in specialized centers are gamblers. This alarming statistic has prompted the Spanish Ministry of Consumer Affairs to advocate for more explicit warning labels on all online gambling platforms to better inform users about potential risks.
Introduction of Clear Warning Labels
Social Rights Minister Pablo Bustinduy announced a new policy inspired by findings from the 2024 National Drug Plan by the Ministry of Health, which confirmed the strong connection between gambling habits and addiction, both online and offline. The initiative aims to provide transparent, factual warnings to users before gambling-related harm occurs.
The proposed labels will replace generic “play responsibly” messages with more direct warnings 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 will be displayed across gaming platforms, digital advertisements, and social media campaigns.
Mixed Reactions to the New Policy
During a recent safer gambling event, Minister Bustinduy emphasized that gambling safety is an authority responsibility rather than the user’s, urging regulatory bodies to ensure safer environments. He also criticized some operators for exploiting individuals facing financial or personal struggles, both online and in physical betting locations.
The measure was incorporated into Royal Decree 958/2020, which oversees gambling advertising in Spain, and was enacted immediately after its announcement.
However, the new regulations have faced opposition from JDigital, Spain’s gambling industry association, which questioned the justification of the measure. They defended the regulated online gambling sector as one of Europe’s most strictly controlled and warned that likening gambling to tobacco could misrepresent the industry.
Potential Future Restrictions
Spain is also considering reinstating bans on celebrity and influencer endorsements and restricting welcome bonuses aimed at younger audiences. These controls were initially implemented in November 2020 but were partially eased in April 2024.
