Spain’s trade body: Sector excluded from gambling reform plans, but market safe from tax rise

ByBDG Game
JDigital director Jorge Hinojosa says Spain’s sector is safe from any gambling tax rise in the short to medium-term.

Spain

The sector is not being consulted on policy changes being enforced in Spain, general director for industry trade body JDigital Jorge Hinojosa has told iGB.  

Spain’s Gambling Advertising Crackdown: What’s Coming Back?

🧾 Royal Decree 958/2020 – A Refresher

  • Introduced in 2020 to protect vulnerable groups, especially minors.

  • Approved by Spain’s Supreme Court in November 2020.

  • Included strict bans on:

    • Celebrity endorsements

    • Sponsorship deals (e.g., sports teams)

    • Welcome bonuses for new players

    • Advertising during non-watershed hours (TV & radio)

  • 2024 saw parts of this Decree overturned, but the government now looks poised to reinstate some or all of them.

🔁 Which Measures Could Be Reinstated?

According to sources close to the legislative process, up to five original policies are under review:

  1. Celebrity bans in BDG Game 

  2. Sponsorship restrictions, especially in sports

  3. Advertising watersheds on TV/radio

  4. Prohibitions on welcome bonuses

  5. Stricter digital marketing rules targeting young audiences

Although no specific timeline has been confirmed, there is speculation that full reinstatement could happen in the short to medium term, depending on political stability.

🗣️ Key Voice: Hinojosa’s Perspective

  • Hinojosa (a prominent industry figure or regulator — depending on context not specified) warns that policy changes must be evidence-based, not politically motivated.

  • He raises a vital question:

    “Who protects the gambling market while the player is protected?”

This reflects industry concerns that regulation is becoming one-sided, potentially undermining the legal, regulated gambling ecosystem.

⚖️ Political Instability Delays Debate

  • Spain’s Parliament is currently mired in political turbulence:

    • In June, the PSOE’s organisational secretary resigned amid corruption allegations.

    • PM Pedro Sánchez is also facing resignation calls from opposition parties.

  • As a result, no formal legislative debate timeline has been announced for the advertising reforms.

💰 No Tax Threat on the Horizon

While countries like the UK, Netherlands, Romania, and Latvia are moving to increase gambling taxes, Spain is an outlier:

  • Hinojosa says no budget session has occurred in 2 years.

  • None is expected in 2025, meaning:

    No immediate risk of tax hikes for gambling operators.

This could be a silver lining for the Spanish market, which might face marketing constraints but will avoid fiscal pressure — at least in the short term.

🔎 Industry Outlook: Navigating Uncertainty

✅ Opportunities:

  • Continued tax stability offers breathing room for operators.

  • Re-regulation could level the playing field by cracking down on non-compliant or offshore brands.

📌 In Summary

  • Spain is likely to reintroduce several key restrictions from the 2020 advertising decree.

  • The celebrity advertising ban is expected to return first.

  • Despite regulatory tightening, tax stability remains, as no budget session is expected through 2025.

  • The process is delayed by political scandal and lack of legislative clarity, but momentum is building toward reimposing more stringent gambling marketing controls.

Similar Posts