Spain’s Ministry of Social Rights, Consumer Affairs and Agenda 2030 has moved the reform into a formal public consultation stage. This consultation is taking place via the Directorate General for Gambling Regulation (DGOJ), and it will remain open till June 22, 2026. Citizens, organizations, and industry stakeholders willing to contribute opinions may do so before the next legislative step.
Spain appears to want its 15-year-old Gambling Regulation Act to fit a market influenced by online gambling, digital advertising, and customer acquisition tools. According to the ministry, the reform should allow for more control, stronger prevention, and better tools for combating illegal gambling.
Influencer Marketing Moves to the Center
The most noticeable proposal refers to celebrities and influencers. In particular, the ministry seeks to regulate their involvement in gambling and betting advertising. The scope is wider than standard gambling ads. It also covers customer acquisition promotions and organic search visibility.
Another significant element of the proposed measures relates to search. According to the ministry, gambling operator advertising pages should appear only when searches are directly connected to betting.
Warnings and Risk Detection Add Pressure
The consultation also links advertising rules to user protection. The ministry is currently drafting mandatory risk warnings within gambling ad formats. These notes would adopt a tobacco-style approach and would include objective risk messages, such as the ministry’s assertion that the probability of being a losing player is 75%.
There is already a hint of Spain’s intentions towards a more data-driven approach in 2026. The ministry has tied the reform to an early detection algorithm for risky gambling behavior. As per the official note, the system will be compulsory for operators, will use real microdata, and can boost current detection rates by up to 10 percentage points.
A Broader Reform Path
This new consultation should be seen within the wider context of Spain’s attempt to define safer gambling online through law, product controls, and ad regulation. Discussion had already begun in early 2026 about cross-operator deposit limits and more effective warnings. The DGOJ Safe Gambling Program 2026-2030 emphasized the importance of prevention and an evidence-based approach in regulating gambling.
The current consultation could help Spain move from policy statements to specific amendments. Operators should pay closer attention to the language used in the consultation, especially when it comes to influencer contracts, promo-like acquisition messages, and search engine visibility. The main compliance questions will likely be whether marketing, product access, and player protection will be considered as separate issues or a single risk management system.
