Spanish communities defend their authority over land-based gambling venues

Regional authorities are concerned that the national gambling regulator’s proposals could undermine their authority over licensing and venue conditions.

Spain.- The 17 autonomous communities in Spain have united to defend their authority over the regulation of land‑based gambling venues. The regional authorities have signed a joint document that challenges what they see as overreach by the national gambling regulator, the Directorate‑General for the Regulation of Gambling (DGOJ).

The move was revealed during the Luis Escribano Gaming Expo-congress in Torremolinos, Malaga, where regional representatives expressed concern that the DGOJ was encroaching on licensing powers. The initiative is being led by Ramón Cubián, Director General for Land and the official responsible for gambling at the Comunidad de Madrid and consolidates input from several autonomous communities.

The document is not intended to be political. Indeed, the community authorities cover a spectrum of different political parties. Rather, the text is intended as a working document defending the communities’ freedom and powers. The regions seek guarantees that national reforms will not undermine their authority over licensing and venue conditions.

The dispute dates back to last year’s Gambling Policy Council, when the DGOJ proposed that it take a coordinating role over protections for vulnerable customers in land‑based gambling. The national regulator argues that its mandate from the Ministry of Consumer Affairs requires it to align Spain’s fragmented gambling framework with common protection standards. It is working with the Ministry on projects such as a universal deposit‑limit system and a shared algorithm to detect gambling harms.

The proposed deposit‑limit would cap daily deposits at €600 across all licensed online operators, preventing customers from treating each operator’s allowance as separate. The algorithm would establish common criteria for identifying risky behaviour and mandate intervention, with additional reporting for players under 21.

However, there’s a concern in the regions that such a role could evolve into the DGOJ directing responsibilities already assigned to regional governments. The communities are insisting on the preservation of regional participation in decisions affecting land‑based gambling, including future retail distribution.

Speaking to Spanish media, Cubián said that any common objectives must reflect differences between regional markets. “Each autonomous community has a different political, economic, social and business environment. The specific circumstances of gambling differ in each community, as do the number of gambling venues and people’s ways of life.”

By Focus Gaming News Editorial Team