Spain’s gambling sector is preparing for major reforms this month, with the Royal Decree on Safer Gambling Environments likely to be approved by the Council of Ministers by the end of March. The Royal Decree proposes a string of measures aimed at preventing problematic gambling among vulnerable customers.
Safer Gambling Royal Decree Could be Signed by End of March
The Spanish agency with oversight of the gambling sector, the DGOJ, has been holding final plenary sessions on the directives contained in the Royal Decree, with DGOJ Director General Mikel Arana expressing confidence that it will get the green light from the Council of Ministers this month.
If approved, the Royal Decree would pave the way for the development of an optimal framework of customer protections which will be adopted federally by Spain’s 17 autonomous regions.
Operators will be Required to Categorize Gamblers
Among the measures proposed is for operators to set up a category system for gamblers and implement specific measures for those categorized as more vulnerable, including young players, people with gambling problems, or individuals registering with the self-exclusion scheme.
The Royal Decree on Safer Gambling is a follow-up to a previous Royal Decree approved in 2021 focusing on advertising which imposed stringent restrictions on gambling ads as well as a ban on gambling sports sponsorships.