Addiction groups renew push for total gambling ad ban in Spain
UNAD once again placed commercial communication in the gaming sector in Spain at the center of the debate by insisting on the “absolute” elimination of advertising for betting and gambling. The statement, released on October 30, 2025, and reported by Yogonet Latin America, comes in a context of increasing scrutiny over the marketing strategies of both land-based and online operators. The request targets the entire advertising ecosystem, from sponsorships and activations at sporting events to digital campaigns, television, radio, and outdoor media. The movement is part of an already mature discussion about balancing consumer protection and the sustainability of a regulated industry that provides employment, investment, and taxation.
According to the note titled “UNAD reiterates its request to ‘absolutely’ eliminate advertising for betting and gambling,” the organization supports its position with an explicit call to withdraw any advertising manifestation linked to gaming activities. The coverage appears in Yogonet dated 2025/10/30 and is framed within multiple sector categories, including Casinos and Bingos, Companies, Legislation, Lotteries, Online Gaming, Associations, Sports Betting, Interviews, eSports, Columnists, Events, and Illegal Gambling. The breadth of these categories reflects the transversal nature of the request, which would impact not only operators and betting houses but also media, sports clubs, streaming platforms, eSports teams, affiliates, and event organizers. The demand for an absolute ban would mean, in practice, the cessation of sponsorships, brand activations, promotions, and acquisition and retention campaigns across all channels.
UNAD is a network of entities specialized in addiction care and prevention with a long history of public influence in Spain, focusing on harm reduction and the protection of vulnerable groups. In recent years, the organization has participated in consultations and forums on problematic consumption, including gambling, and has requested more restrictive measures regarding advertising exposure. Its stance is usually supported by epidemiological evidence and the experience of its federated entities on the front lines of social intervention. With this new statement, the network reinforces a line of work that has positioned it as a frequent interlocutor in legislative and regulatory debates related to addictive behaviors and risk environments.
The Spanish regulatory framework for gaming is structured around Law 13/2011, under the supervision of the Directorate General for the Regulation of Gambling (DGOJ), and has been tightened with specific regulations on commercial communications since 2020. In particular, Royal Decree 958/2020 established restricted time slots, limited the use of influencers and sports sponsorships, and curtailed commercial incentives, reshaping the marketing strategy of licensed operators. This is complemented by subsequent provisions on safer gaming environments, with obligations for risk monitoring, user segmentation, and reinforced controls on young people. In the European context, there are relevant references: Italy applied an almost total advertising ban with the so-called “Dignity Decree” in 2019; Belgium implemented strong restrictions in 2023; and the Netherlands banned non-segmented advertising that same year, while the United Kingdom opted for gradual adjustments in sponsorships and compliance.
For the iGaming and sports betting industry, an “absolute” ban in Spain would have structural impacts on acquisition, loyalty, and relationships with the sports and media ecosystem. Operators present in the Spanish market — including brands from international groups and local companies active in betting and online casino — would see their acquisition channels restricted, being forced to prioritize CRM strategies, social responsibility, and non-commercial corporate communication. Sponsorship in professional and semi-professional sports, as well as in eSports, would undergo a readjustment with financial implications for clubs, leagues, and tournament organizers, who in recent years have depended on naming rights, front-of-shirt deals, and digital activations. Pressure would also increase on the affiliate and performance marketing chain to adapt to a stricter compliance environment, while the media would face the loss of advertising revenue associated with this vertical. At the same time, regulators usually monitor that broad restrictions do not encourage unauthorized gambling, an aspect that the “Illegal Gambling” category highlights as a risk to be mitigated through payment traceability, domain control, and channeling measures.
Looking ahead, UNAD’s reiteration may accelerate rounds of dialogue among the administration, the regulator, operator associations, consumer entities, and sports agents to assess the scope and effects of new limitations. Any significant modification could come through regulatory or legislative means, after evaluating the effectiveness of current restrictions and indicators of prevalence, advertising exposure, and channeling towards licensed operators. The debate will likely consider the differentiated treatment of publicly owned lotteries and entities such as ONCE versus private operators, as well as alignment with European standards and commitments to safer gambling. Pending definitions, the sector will need to anticipate scenarios of reinforced compliance, redesign of commercial strategies, and increased investment in consumer protection tools, in a market where regulatory sustainability and advertising integrity are increasingly decisive.
Tags: Spain, UNAD, betting advertising, betting advertising block