Spain Opens Review of Gambling Advertising Rules

Public Consultation Starts

Spain’s Ministry of Consumer Affairs started the consultation this week. The gambling regulator DGOJ is also involved. The process will run until 22 June. Players, companies, and industry groups can all give feedback.

Officials are reviewing current advertising rules. They say the rules are old and need updates. Most rules have not changed for about fifteen years. They also point to the rise of online gambling and illegal sites.

The goal is to reduce aggressive marketing. Authorities are especially focused on younger online users. They want clearer rules and stronger protections.

Influencers, Bonuses, and Online Ads

The plan includes tighter rules for influencer and celebrity ads. Public figures may have limits on gambling promotions. This is meant to reduce strong marketing impact on users. Bonus offers are also under review. Regulators worry these offers may push risky spending. They want to reduce pressure on new users.

Search visibility may also change. Gambling ads could appear less often in general searches. But they may still show when users search for gambling terms. Main proposals include:

• Stricter rules for influencer and celebrity ads

• Lower visibility in general search results

• Limits on bonus offers for new users

• Clear responsible gambling warnings

New System for Player Safety

Spain is also planning a new system to detect risky gambling behaviour. Operators may need to share data to support this system. It is meant to spot problems earlier. Officials believe detection could improve by around ten percent. This would help identify at-risk players sooner.

Regulators also want stronger warning messages in ads. These warnings may look like health warnings on cigarettes. One example says most players lose money. The aim is simple. Increase awareness of gambling risks. And reduce harm.

Illegal Gambling Concerns

Illegal gambling is still a concern in Spain. Some past ad rules were removed by the Supreme Court in 2024. But authorities still see problems in the market. A recent study estimated €231 million in illegal online gambling in 2024. That is about sixteen percent of the legal market. Many users did not know they were using unlicensed sites.

Officials believe stronger ad rules may help. They also hope better monitoring will reduce illegal gambling over time.