Spanish government faces criticism from the European Gaming and Betting Association (EGBA)
The Spanish government is set to impose strict advertising restrictions on private gambling operators, with a sponsorship ban for sports clubs as well. The European Gaming and Betting Association (EGBA) has heavily criticized these actions, claiming they infringe on EU regulations. Private associations in the industry are offering support.
Imbalanced regulations
The ongoing debate over new regulations in Spain intensifies as the EGBA speaks out. The Brussels-based industry association is adamant that the government's proposed advertising restrictions and bans constitute a breach of EU law. State operators ONCE and SELAE will not be subject to these rules, creating an imbalanced situation.
The upcoming regulations call for a blanket ban on audiovisual gambling advertising for private gambling companies. Nighttime restrictions apply from 1:00 to 5:00 a.m. In addition, there is a ban on all sports sponsorship by betting providers. However, these regulations are non-applicable to designated state lottery companies, sparking concerns from the EGBA. They argue that private companies would be systematically discriminated against in violation of EU directives.
EGBA's Secretary General, Maarten Haijer, urges the Spanish government to revise these measures. He maintains that they favor state lotteries, which dominate the gambling market. Moreover, the lack of evidence justifying the new regulations raises concerns.
The EGBA draws attention to data from the Spanish advertising association AEA: ONCE and SELAE generated 65% of the gambling market's revenue, with 34% attributed to these two companies in terms of ad spending. ONCE completed 2019 with an investment of €49 million in advertisements, the highest amount among all gaming firms.
Ensuring fairness and compliance with EU directives
To reinforce their claim, the EGBA cites a recent gambling study conducted by the University of Madrid. This research reveals that problem gambling in Spain stands at a mere 0.3%, one of the lowest rates globally. The study also found that 84.9% of the population indulged in some form of gambling in 2019.
The majority of Spanish citizens participated in state lotteries – 25.8 million people participated in the Christmas lottery, 14.5 million in the El Niño lottery, and 14 million players in the Primitiva lotteries. ONCE-branded scratch card games saw 8.5 million players.
ONCE instant win scratchcards recorded the highest popularity with 9.9% of the Spanish population participating. Younger audiences are drawn to these products, as 50.5% of players were under 35.
Responsible gambling
Some 6.5 million customers gambled with private operators, including casinos, bingo halls, and arcades, as well as enjoying online gaming in 2019. The overall number of gamblers has decreased since 2007, when over 90% of the Spanish population engaged in gambling at least once a year.
E-gaming has seen a surge in popularity in recent times. A significant 5 million customers wagered online in 2019, equivalent to an average of 630,000 gamblers monthly. Among these, just 300,000 played regularly, representing 0.9% of the adult population.
José Antonio Gómez Yáñez, Professor of Sociology at the University of Madrid, developed the study to provide definitive figures regarding Spain's relationship with gambling. He asserts that the vast majority of gamblers behave responsibly, echoing the EGBA's position on the unjust treatment of private operators.
Essential fairness and compliance
Cejuego and Jdigital, prominent gambling associations, join the criticisms of the advertising restrictions. These organizations recognize the damaging effect of Alberto Garzón's efforts to impose rigid limitations. They argue that licensed companies cannot advertise their services, propelling the uncontrolled black market. Instead, they call for fairness and adherence to EU directives.
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Simultaneously, the sports field may also face consequences from future sponsorship restrictions. Not long ago, the national consumer ministry urged Primera Division soccer teams to cancel all existing gambling sponsorships by the end of the 2020/21 season at the most. La Liga's chief, Javier Tebas, anticipates that this ban will lead to approximately 90 million euro losses for Spanish soccer. The government has yet to make a statement regarding the criticism.
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Source: www.onlinecasinosdeutschland.com
