Spain considering tougher gambling ad restrictions
New rules to bring gambling ad regulations in line with tobacco advertising
The Spanish government is planning to implement stricter advertising rules for gambling ads as part of its 2019 budget.
The proposed measures would prohibit or severely restrict the advertising of gambling and online betting, bringing it in line with current restrictions placed on tobacco advertising.
Tobacco ads are banned on TV, radio, and print media while being heavily restricted online.
Other measures being put forward in the proposed budget would include increased study of problem gambling and tighter consumer protection measures. As part of this, the government will reallocate the existing gambling taxation rate of 20% so that online operators pay a percentage towards problem gambling initiatives.
The government said: “In recent years online sites have proliferated using very aggressive advertising formulas linked to the image of celebrities, usually successful athletes, or free bonuses.
“It is also becoming more and more frequent that broadcasts of football or basketball games are flooded with ads that offer live betting, turning this activity into something very accessible for all kinds of people, including minors. It is imperative to address this situation.”
Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, leader of Spain’s ruling Socialist Workers Party (PSOE) signed a cross-party agreement with Podemos party leader Pablo Iglesias, securing potential support for these budget changes and staving off the threat of a snap election. Any agreed changes would come into force from January 2019.
Santiago Asensi, managing partner of Spanish gaming law firm Asensi Abogados, said: “During the last 3 years, the Spanish regulator has been working on an advertising bill, which due to the different political circumstances has not been approved yet. Said bill establishes limits to the current gambling advertising rules in Spain, but still can be considered as a well-balanced regulatory tool in terms of protecting consumers as well as providing good advertising opportunities to the industry.
“The way that this budget is going to be developed involves many uncertain aspects from a political perspective (mainly, what will be the length of the current Government?) as well as, in case that this Government stays, what would be the potential impact of this declaration within the current bill proposed by the regulator.”