Spain Introduces Tobacco-Style Gambling Warnings Amid Industry Backlash

Spain’s Ministry of Social Rights, Consumer Affairs and Agenda 2030 has confirmed new obligations for online gambling operators in Spain to display bold health-style warnings highlighting the risks of gambling addiction. The move, which aligns gambling messaging with the type of stark warnings found on cigarette packaging, has provoked sharp criticism from the industry’s leading trade body, JDigital.

New Requirements for Operators

The announcement was delivered by Social Rights Minister Pablo Bustinduy during a “Safer Gambling” event in Madrid, with the ministry confirming the changes will be enforced under the framework of Royal Decree 958/2020. Online platforms will now be required to replace softer reminders such as “play responsibly” with more explicit warnings.

Among the mandated messages are:

• “Gambling addiction is a risk of gambling”
• “The probability of being a losing gambler is 75%”
• “Losses for all gamblers are four times greater than their winnings”

These notices must appear across operator websites, mobile applications, and digital advertising, including banners and social media campaigns. He argued the measure was necessary to ensure safety in digital gambling environments, stating: “The responsibility should not fall on users but on the authorities, who have the democratic duty to ensure that the environments they access are safe.”

The ministry has stressed that the messages will be prominently displayed in an accessible format to reach a broad audience.

Evidence Behind the Decision

Officials have based the new regulation on recent studies from Spain’s Ministry of Health as part of the National Drugs Plan. A 2024 report revealed that 82% of treatment admissions for addictive disorders in 2022 were linked to gambling. The ministry said this alarming figure underscored the urgency of stronger preventive measures.

Bustinduy further noted that gambling-related harm disproportionately affects economically vulnerable communities. “There are unscrupulous operators who have no qualms about taking advantage of those in greater need,” he said, adding that online platforms present even greater accessibility risks than physical betting shops.

The ministry also cited additional research from the Journal of Gambling Studies, which highlighted a lack of robust evidence on gambling harm warnings compared to substances like alcohol and tobacco. Complementing this, the Directorate General for Gambling Regulation (DGOJ) found that more than half of Spanish students aged 14 to 18 had not received information about the risks of gambling. This, combined with data showing a 28% rise in new players aged 18 to 25 in 2024, reinforced concerns about youth exposure.

Industry Opposition and Marketing Restrictions

While the government frames the initiative as a public health measure, JDigital has strongly objected. The association, representing Spain’s online gambling operators, argued the warnings were “difficult to justify” and accused the ministry of making unfair comparisons with smoking. JDigital emphasized that Spain’s regulated market is “one of the most monitored and controlled activities in Europe” and insisted the analogy “makes no sense.”

Beyond warning labels, the ministry is also preparing further restrictions. Bustinduy has signaled his intention to reintroduce bans on celebrity endorsements and welcome bonuses targeted at young people. These limits, originally imposed in 2020, were partially lifted in 2023 after a Supreme Court ruling allowed operators to reinstate promotional offers. The forthcoming Law on Customer Service, currently under discussion in Congress, could serve as the vehicle to bring these curbs back into force.

Bustinduy underlined that these steps aim to prevent deepening social inequalities linked to gambling, ensuring operators cannot exploit younger or more vulnerable groups.

Source:

Consumo obligará a los portales de apuestas online a mostrar un cartel advirtiendo sobre los riesgos del juego, dsca.gob.es, October 1, 2025.