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Spain overhauls gambling laws to protect young players from rising risks

A shocking youth survey forces Spain's hand—now, stricter rules and cross-platform betting limits aim to shield teens from gambling's hidden dangers. Will it work?

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1 min read
The image shows a blue and white logo with the words "Gamblers vs 28" written on it, along with a...
The image shows a blue and white logo with the words "Gamblers vs 28" written on it, along with a few playing cards and a stick. The logo is likely associated with a gambling game, suggesting that the image is meant to represent the differences between the two sides of the game.

Spain overhauls gambling laws to protect young players from rising risks

Spain is preparing for a major overhaul of its gambling regulations. The reforms come as concerns grow over structural risks in the current system, particularly among young people. A recent survey has highlighted rising gambling activity among adolescents, pushing the government to act.

The Ministry of Consumer Affairs will take full control of gambling oversight and public engagement on gambling-related harms. This shift follows reports from the ESTUDES 2025 youth survey, which found increased gambling participation among 14- to 18-year-olds. The findings have sharpened political attention on digital gambling environments.

Andrés Barragán, Secretary General for Consumer Affairs and Gambling, is leading the reform. His plans include centralising regulatory oversight, tightening advertising rules, and introducing cross-operator betting limits. These limits aim to stop players from bypassing spending thresholds by switching between different gambling platforms. Currently, Spain’s responsible gambling tools operate independently across various agencies and operators. The reform will unify these systems and introduce a new monitoring framework designed by public health experts. This system will help detect problematic gambling behaviour earlier. Advertising practices are also under review. The government intends to adjust them based on the industry’s economic structure and how revenue is distributed among users. The goal is to reduce exposure to high-risk gambling promotions. Another key change is moving away from narratives that place all responsibility on individuals. Instead, the reforms will address structural factors influenced by operators themselves.

The proposed changes will centralise gambling regulation under the Ministry of Consumer Affairs. New cross-operator betting limits, stricter advertising rules, and an early warning system for problematic behaviour are set to be introduced. The reforms aim to create a safer gambling environment, particularly for younger players.

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