Spain seeks levy to fund problem gambling

The Partido Popular proposed to set a levy on gambling revenue to fund problem gambling prevention and its treatment.

Spain.- A proposal by Spain’s Partido Popular (PP) has been submitted to the Joint Commission for Study of the Problem of Drugs to set a levy on gaming revenue in order to fund problem gambling treatment. The document establishes measures to prevent gambling addiction and further treatment for those already suffering from it.

The proposal foresees the elimination of “gambling advertising and other hooks that may provoke the surge of new problem gamblers” and targets the “rising influence” of sports betting companies among young people (36 per cent of actual problem gamblers bet at a young age for the first time). Furthermore, it seeks to eradicate gambling at sports’ development divisions and looks to limit advertising out of kid’s viewing time.

According to the PP, the proposal tackles problem gambling as a whole but especially aims to protect the younger population. That’s why the project will be treated by the commission in order to assess whether the use of gambling revenue should be used to fund said measures and if the document should be turned into law.