Spain could ban gambling advertising
The Ombudsman filed recommendations about a gambling advertising ban in Spain.
Spain.- The Spanish Ombudsman, Francisco Fernández Marugán, insisted yet again on gambling advertising. He filed a recommendation to ban it with the ministries of Treasury and the Health, Consumer and Welfare. Within said filing, he asked for a complete ban of gambling advertising in Spain. However, should there only be limits applied, he recommended certain time limits.
The official based his filing in a World Health Organization opinion branding gaming disorder as a disease. That’s why he thinks Spain should ban gambling advertising on mainstream media.
Should the complete ban fail, he said “expanding time frames for the ad prohibition.” Furthermore, he explained: “kids’ viewing time need to be clean of gambling ads and no celebrities should be shown advertising gambling.”
Different regions’ take
In Galicia, regulation changes will set a 118 limit on gaming rooms and 41 betting shops. The government is on track to pass such rules and, according to the Galician Gambling Commission, they are aimed at closing the market before the publication of the next laws on gaming.
Emiliano García-Page announced new gaming legislation in Castilla-La Mancha as well. The president of the autonomous community wants it to restrict new gambling hall openings.
“We’re becoming very worried about young people getting involved with gambling,” he said. “We want to stop it before it further develops,” he added.
However, the gambling industry in Spain is worried since he also froze ten gaming licences up for approval in 2019. The region is certainly facing tougher laws and gambling may be in trouble.
