The Ministry of Social Rights, Consumption and the 2030 Agenda, led by Pablo Bustinduy, has announced a decisive step toward regulating online gambling in Spain. The main focus is on developing and implementing Royal Decree 958/2020, which obligates online betting operators to display clear warnings about the risks associated with gambling addiction, in a format similar to the warnings on tobacco packaging.
During the 'Safe Gaming' event, organized by the Directorate-General for Gambling Regulation (DGOJ), Bustinduy highlighted the importance of these warnings, which will include alarming messages such as the 75% probability of losing money and the enormous, widespread losses among players. These messages will be visible on the gaming platforms and in your online advertising.
The minister stressed that the responsibility to ensure safe environments lies with the authorities and not with individuals, replacing generic messages such as 'play responsibly' with these new notices. This initiative not only seeks to protect users, but also to combat social inequalities, highlighting how unscrupulous operators often take advantage of people in vulnerable economic situations.
The new regulation will form part of a broader effort backed by the National Drug Plan and in line with recent research that highlights the similarity between gambling warnings and those for alcohol or tobacco.
Moreover, the imminent Customer Service Law will regulate gambling advertising, prohibiting the participation of celebrities and welcome bonuses that particularly appeal to young people. According to recent data, the number of young players has grown significantly, with a worrying 28% increase among new players aged 18 to 25, which underscores the urgency of these measures.
The Ministry also highlights the lack of information about the risks of gambling among students, since more than half of them have not received adequate education on the subject, according to the ESTUDES Survey.
With these actions, the Government seeks to create a safer and more controlled gaming environment, minimizing the risks and protecting the most vulnerable sectors of society in the face of the advance of online gaming.
Fuente: Ministerio de Consumo
