Spanish association urges credit card gambling ban

The association FACUA is urging the government to change regulations and ban the use of credit cards in betting facilities.

Spain.- FACUA-Consumidores en Acción, the independent Spanish association that advocates for consumer rights, is urging the Minister of Consumption, Alberto Garzón, to prohibit the use of credit cards to place bets both online and in physical betting establishments.

The measure would help the fight against problem gambling, something that the association claims has not stopped increasing in recent years. FACUA wants the government to follow UK’s initiative to ban credit card gambling, a measure that was approved this week and that will come into effect in April.

FACUA also said that it supports PSOE and Unidas Podemos’ initiative to promote the unification of criteria among the autonomous communities in Spain regarding the limitation of the schedule to allow betting houses to work. The measure would prevent them from opening before 10 pm or installing near schools. The association urges the government to go further and also ban credit cards.

“FACUA shows its concern about the increase of this type of websites and betting establishments, as well as the repeated publicity about them, and the impact that they may have on the population’s access to the game, especially to the most vulnerable groups, such as minors,” said FACUA.

“The association emphasizes that the payment with credit cards or the location of ATMs within the premises themselves, can facilitate participation in them, creating an even greater problem of user indebtedness and risk of gambling addiction,” the association said.

“FACUA insists on restricting bookmakers and has been claiming for several years that advertising of these businesses is prohibited. FACUA warns that it is essential that advertising of this type of services be prohibited in order to prevent its consumption from being encouraged, both among users who are regulars and among those who have never participated in this type of activities.”