Madrid, October 2 2025 – Spain’s Ministry of Social Rights, Consumer Affairs and Agenda 2030 has announced a sweeping new requirement for private online gambling operators: mandatory display of explicit risk warnings modeled after tobacco package health labels.
Consumer Affairs Minister Pablo Bustinduy unveiled the measure during the “Safe Gaming” event, confirming that the Directorate General for the Regulation of Gambling (DGOJ) will soon open a public consultation on a resolution expanding the Royal Decree 958/2020, which regulates gambling advertising.
Instead of generic phrases like “play responsibly”, operators will be obliged to post hard-hitting, data-based warnings across websites, apps, banners, and digital ads. Examples include:
- “Gambling addiction is a risk of gaming.”
- “The probability of being a losing player is 75%.”
- “Total player losses exceed winnings fourfold.”
Bustinduy stressed that the burden of protection cannot rest solely on users: “Authorities have the democratic duty to ensure safe environments.”
The measure comes alongside a proposed Customer Service Law (Ley SAC), which would further restrict gambling advertising by banning celebrities in campaigns and removing welcome bonuses aimed at young audiences.
Citing official data, the Ministry highlighted that 82% of treatment admissions in 2022 were related to gambling addiction, online gambling among 18–25 year olds rose 28% in 2024, and more than 20,000 young people lost over €3,000 last year on online platforms. Furthermore, 51.6% of students aged 14–18 reported never having received information about gambling risks.
Bustinduy also criticized industry practices, noting that “unscrupulous operators exploit those in vulnerable conditions, with lower-income neighborhoods disproportionately hosting betting shops, while online gambling remains even more accessible and dangerous.”
This regulatory step positions Spain among the first European countries to enforce tobacco-style warning labels in gambling, marking a decisive shift in its responsible gaming strategy. The industry, already facing limits on advertising, sponsorships, and promotions, will now need to adapt communications to include stark reminders of risk, echoing the visual and factual impact of cigarette warnings.
