Spain moves on gambling advertising ban

The gambling advertising ban in Spain is soon to be enforced as the PSOE minority government will accept all recommendations to limit such activity.

Spain.- A gambling advertising ban in Spain has been under debate for quite a while, but could finally be enforced. According to recent reports, the PSOE minority government will accept all the Ombudsman’s recommendations and limit the industry’s marketing efforts.

The authorities will soon draft a Royal Decree to establish restrictions on gambling advertising in Spain. It would be federal legislation, impacting all across the country.

The Ministry of Finance has reportedly accepted the Ombudsman’s recommendations. That way, departments would have to enforce new restrictions on the gaming industry.

The recommendations

The Spanish Ombudsman, Francisco Fernández Marugán, filed his recommendation 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 needs to be clean of gambling ads and no celebrities should be shown advertising gambling.”