Spain sees increase in self-exclusion from online gambling

The national self-exclusion scheme saw a 12 per cent increase in registrations in 2020.

Spain.- The number of people registered with Spain’s national self-exclusion scheme for online gambling reached 56,329 by the end of 2020. That’s a 12.02 per cent increase in registrations since 2019.

The Registro General de Interdicciones de Acceso al Juego (RGIAJ) was launched by the national gambling regulator, the Dirección General de Ordenación del Juego (DGOJ), in 2015.

The region of Andalusia, the most populous of Spain’s comunidades autónomas, accounts for 24.5 per cent (13,811) of all those who use the scheme, with a 7.1 per cent increase in registrations last year.   

Madrid, the capital, came second, accounting for 9,591 registrations representing an increase of 13.1 per cent.

The Balearic Islands, which include Ibiza, saw the highest growth in registrations, up 56.9 per cent to 1,183.

The RGIAJ allows players to self-exclude from online gaming only. Land-based self-exclusion remains organised at the regional level, although the regional governments and Madrid have reached an agreement to interconnect their registers.

The region of Castilla-La Mancha already has its exclusion register for land-based gambling connected to the RGIAJ and other comunidades are expected to follow suit.

Spain introduced a new royal decree towards the end of last year tightening restrictions on the promotion of gambling. 

The Ministry for Consumer Affairs has since outlined plans to further tighten gambling regulations and make changes to regulatory fees.

Gambling revenue in Spain fell by 57 per cent in the first 10 months of 2020.