Spain Orders Tobacco-Style Gambling Warnings

Spain has introduced a strict new requirement for online gambling operators: display warnings about gambling addiction risks similar to those on tobacco packaging. The move has already stirred a debate between regulators and the country’s gambling trade body.

Good to Know

• New warnings replace “play responsibly” with stronger addiction-focused messages.
• JDigital says comparisons with tobacco are “difficult to justify.”
• Spain is also considering fresh bans on celebrity gambling ads and welcome bonuses.

Warnings Inspired by Tobacco Labels

Announced by Minister for Social Rights Pablo Bustinduy at a safer gambling event, the new rules require online gambling platforms and marketing campaigns to carry visible addiction warnings. Phrases will include:

• “Gambling addiction is a risk of gambling.”
• “The probability of being a losing gambler is 75%.”
• “Losses for all gamblers are four times greater than their winnings.”

Bustinduy stressed that the burden should not be placed on players alone:

“The responsibility should not fall on users but on the authorities, who have the democratic duty to ensure that the environments they access are safe.”

The rules have been written into law through Royal Decree 958/2020, which regulates gambling marketing and communications.

Background on the Order

The Ministry for Consumer Affairs based the decision on a 2024 study by the Ministry for Health, which revealed that up to 82% of gambling-related treatment admissions in Spain during 2022 were linked to addiction. Officials say the warnings aim to prevent harmful behaviours before they develop and will complement broader consumer protection strategies.

Bustinduy also called out both online and land-based operators, accusing some of targeting vulnerable individuals without hesitation.

Critique from Trade Association

The trade association JDigital issued a statement the following day, strongly criticizing the measure. According to the group, linking gambling to tobacco is “difficult to justify” and fails to reflect the reality of Spain’s regulated online market—one of the most heavily monitored in Europe.

JDigital argues that regulated gambling already includes extensive consumer safeguards and that further restrictions risk damaging a sector designed to provide safer alternatives to the black market.

That’s Not All

Alongside the new warning labels, Spain is considering tougher restrictions on marketing. Bustinduy confirmed that proposals are underway to reinstate bans on celebrity and influencer gambling promotions, as well as prohibitions on welcome bonuses for young players. These measures are currently under review in Spanish Congress, though no timeline has been confirmed.

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