Spain tightens policies and adjusts self-exclusion periods
The Spanish regulatory framework continues its process of tightening in favor of user protection and public health. As recently published in the Official Gazette of the Cortes Generales, the Mixed Commission for the Study of Addiction Problems has ratified a series of measures that seek to balance commercial promotion and the prevention of gambling disorder. The most notable agreement obliges the Government to increase investment in awareness campaigns, establishing that the budget allocated to prevention must be, at a minimum, equal to or greater than that invested in the promotion of gambling by any public or institutional body.
This resolution is not limited to a budgetary matter but demands a more robust technical basis through the implementation of exhaustive scientific studies on the new dynamics of digital gambling. The main focus of these actions will be on adolescents and their families, a segment considered highly vulnerable to the immediacy and constant access offered by online platforms. With this move, the Spanish legislator attempts to anticipate the risks associated with the digitalization of entertainment, ensuring that warnings about the dangers of excessive gambling have the same media reach as operators' offers.
In parallel, the voluntary self-exclusion system will receive a significant regulatory update to ensure its effectiveness. The Commission has requested the Executive to raise the minimum validity period in the General Registry of Gambling Access Prohibitions to one year, preventing short-term entries and exits that dilute the purpose of the measure. Furthermore, it is proposed to integrate psychological support mechanisms and prior evaluations before allowing removal from the registry, especially in cases of recidivism. In this way, Spain seeks to make exiting the self-exclusion system a responsible and supported process, consolidating the safety net for players who have decided to step away from the activity.
Tags: Spain, gambling addiction prevention Spain, responsible gaming policies