Spain mandates warning labels on online gambling after addiction study

Citing data showing that 82% of treatment admissions for behavioral addictions (those not involving substance abuse) in 2022 were related to gambling addiction, Spain’s Ministry of Consumer Affairs has mandated the inclusion of warning labels across all online gambling platforms.

The policy, announced by Social Rights Minister Pablo Bustinduy, draws on research from the Ministry for Health’s 2024 National Drug Plan.

The research examined gambling behavior across Spain and reported a strong connection between addiction cases and gambling activities, both online and in person. The Ministry said the new requirement seeks to address problem gambling by informing users of its risks through clear and direct warnings.

Bustinduy said the warnings will appear across online games, digital banners, and social media advertising. Existing “play responsibly” messages will be replaced by new statements such as: “Gambling addiction is a risk of gambling,” “The probability of being a losing gambler is 75%,” and “Losses for all gamblers are four times greater than their winnings.”

He told attendees at a safer gambling event that “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 measure has been incorporated into Royal Decree 958/2020, Spain’s framework regulating gambling advertising and communications. It was announced on Wednesday last week and took immediate effect.

Bustinduy said the initiative aims to prevent gambling-related harm before it occurs. He added that “unscrupulous” betting companies have taken advantage of people facing financial or personal difficulties, noting that this behavior is seen both in physical venues and online.

The gambling trade association JDigital has questioned the regulation, calling it “difficult to justify.” In a statement, the organization said the measure “did not correspond to the nature of regulated online gambling in Spain, which is one of the most monitored and controlled activities in Europe.”

The group said comparing gambling to tobacco could misrepresent the industry’s operations and oversight in the Spanish market.

Bustinduy also confirmed that the government is reviewing other advertising restrictions, including a proposal to reinstate the ban on celebrity and influencer promotions for gambling products and welcome bonuses targeted at younger audiences.

The proposal is currently under review in the Spanish Congress, though no timeline has been given. The restrictions were initially introduced in November 2020, limiting sponsorship deals and promotional offers, but were partially relaxed in April 2024, allowing operators to again use public figures and bonuses in their marketing campaigns.