Spain launches public consultation on gambling law reforms

(AsiaGameHub) –   The DGOJ has launched a consultation on suggested revisions to Spain’s Gambling Regulation Act.

Spain.- The Ministry of Social Rights, Consumer Affairs and Agenda 2030—via Spain’s gambling regulatory body, the DGOJ—has opened a public consultation on plans to revise the nation’s Gambling Regulation Act. The proposed reforms aim to tighten oversight, enhance prevention efforts, and equip authorities with additional resources to fight illegal gambling.

The existing law has been in place for 15 years. Per the DGOJ, the suggested adjustments would enable the legislation to more effectively adapt to the digital landscape, particularly the rise of online gambling, while also broadening safeguards for users.

The updates feature measures to regulate the involvement of celebrities or influencers in gambling ads—an issue the ministry previously tried to address through a royal decree. The revisions also cover customer acquisition campaigns and organic search engine ads, with the aim of ensuring that gambling operators’ promotional pages only show up when searches are directly related to betting.

Running until June 22, the public consultation seeks to collect feedback on existing challenges, the reform’s goals, and possible measures. All members of the public, along with relevant organisations and stakeholders, are encouraged to participate.

This reform is part of the Ministry’s wider initiative on gambling, which includes developing an AI algorithm to detect problem gambling early. This innovative tool—designed to prevent risky behaviour using real microdata—will be required for all gambling operators. The DGOJ projects it could boost detection rates by 10 percentage points.

The Ministry of Consumer Affairs also stated that gambling ads must include risk warnings. These messages will follow the same format as the warnings on cigarette packs (which alert users to smoking risks) and will include statistics like the 75% chance that a gambler will lose money.

New grants supporting gambling research

In addition, the ministry has rolled out a new competitive grant scheme valued at €950,620 to back academic and institutional research on gambling. The DGOJ will oversee this initiative. Funds will be allocated to projects exploring prevention tactics, the social and health effects of gambling, and related risks.

Applications are available to a diverse range of organisations, such as public and private universities, healthcare providers, non-profit organisations, and research centers. To be eligible, applicants need to show a proven history of gambling-related research. Projects must start no sooner than January 1 2026 and end by June 30 2027.

Candidates for funding will need to fall within the designated focus areas: early detection of those exhibiting risky or severe gambling behaviour; individual, family, or societal harm linked to gambling, including mental health issues and financial difficulties; Development of tools, mechanisms or processes aimed at mitigating the adverse consequences of gambling; Connections between video games and gambling; the structural characteristics of gambling businesses; gender-related impacts on risky or severe gambling behaviour.