Spain has tightened its regulations for online gambling: operators are now required to include explicit warnings in their advertising and platform content, similar to the labeling on tobacco products.
What exactly is changing?
Following the amendment to Royal Decree 958/2020, online gambling sites, apps, and digital advertising must now display clear, data-based warning messages instead of general advice such as “play responsibly.” Examples of mandatory messages:
- “Gambling addiction is a risk of gambling.”
- “The probability of being a losing player is 75%.”
- “The losses of all players are four times higher than their winnings.”
The new warnings must be clearly visible on registration pages, banners, login screens, and in online advertising, including on social media.
Government justification
Spanish consumer protection authorities argue that the current practice of generic warnings is insufficient. The Minister for Consumer Protection, Pablo Bustinduy, emphasized that responsibility does not lie solely with users, but that the state must guarantee safe environments. The new system is intended to help prevent inequalities and address risky behavior at an earlier stage.
At the same time, the government is planning a “Customer Service Law” that will further restrict advertising—for example, by banning celebrities as advertising media and discontinuing bonus offers that specifically target young players.
Criticism from the industry
The Spanish gaming association JDigital issued sharp criticism. In a statement, it said that the comparison with tobacco was “difficult to justify” as regulated online gambling was already heavily controlled. It also warned that the measures did not differentiate between responsible gaming and problematic behavior, but could stigmatize all players.
Perspective
With this change, Spain is taking a big step in the European regulatory arena: away from vague appeals and toward clear and unambiguous messages about risks. It will be interesting to see how providers implement technical and design adjustments, as well as how players react.