Spain's Gambling Regulator Launches New Safer Gambling Programme

Spain's DGOJ has introduced a new Safe Gambling Programme from 2026 to 2030. Here's what it includes and what it means for players in Spanish casinos.

Spain's regulator, the Directorate General for the Regulation of Gambling (DGOJ), recently launched a new Safe Gambling Programme for 2026 to 2030.

The plan sets out 3 priority areas, 6 objectives, and 24 specific measures, all aimed at protecting younger players from gambling harms.

New safer gambling programme

The new Safe Gambling Programme 2026-2030 was introduced at a meeting of the Advisory Council on Safe Gambling in DGOJ's headquarters in Madrid.

The themes that run through the plan include better research, stronger prevention tools integrated at Spanish online casinos, and closer monitoring of gambling advertisements.

Key focus is the younger players group, those between 18 and 25 years old, where statistics report that gambling participation has severely increased due to the growing influence of social media and video games.

Thus, Spain's new safe gambling program will target social media influence to protect the youth. This and all other measures will be determined in consultation with the DGOJ's advisory body, the Consejo Asesor.

Why the reassessments of consumer protections?

According to the DGOJ, there have been several market developments since 2019, which include the continued concentration of revenues among smaller groups of major operators and demographic shifts.

Not to mention the increased online gambling participation among the younger population. The regulator is currently studying the influence social media has on gambling patterns, specifically.

They aim to develop a standardised mechanism that will detect risky online gambling behaviour as mandated by the 2023 real Decreto.

All this has led to a decision to reassess consumer safeguards and create a new, proactive programme for protection.

Data, prevention, and player protection

To develop an effective plan, the DGOJ wants to compile a comprehensive catalogue of international and regional gambling policies. The gaming authority will also do an in-depth investigation of structural game features that may contribute to addictive betting behaviour.

The priority will be to produce accessible public guidance that includes informative guides on risky behaviour and gambling risks. There will also be a directory of treatment and support services. The authority will reassess the player self-assessment tool currently in use for deposit and limit changes.

Collaborations with treatment providers will be strengthened, and gambling monitoring with national addictions frameworks will be integrated, such as EDADES, ESTUDES, and the Plan Nacional sobre Drogas.

The DGOJ’s plans also include comprehensive communication campaigns and thematic conferences that address important topics like artificial intelligence and loot boxes.

The use of consumer protection tools is also being promoted. This includes the Protocol for Victims of Identity Misuse (PACS), the Phishing Alert Service, and the National Exclusion Register (RGIAJ) for self-exclusion from online casinos.

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What happens to the existing Royal Decrees?

Spain has already tightened its gambling rules significantly. Royal Decree 958/2020 and Royal Decree 176/2023 impose stricter controls on advertising, session and payment limits, and account suspension protocols.

For example, recently, Spain added a new requirement for visible gambling addiction warnings on platforms. The requirement received pushback from the industry trade body, which stated that no prior communication was made about the change.

However, alongside those, some problematic trends have popped up, so the DGOJ have started with a close evaluation of the current gambling regulations in Spain.

The new programme will reassess how those decrees are actually performing, and whether they align with EU directives and international regulatory frameworks. That's worth watching.

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By Deni

Verified Casino Expert

Expertise: Casino Content Writing, Journalism & (PR), Gambling Regulations, Dutch & German Gambling Markets

Hi, I'm Deni! I'm a research obsessive with a passion for gambling regulations, market trends, and casino news. I dig deep into every topic I cover - so every article, review, or guide I write is built on solid research and real detail.

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Last updated: May 20, 2026

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Spain's gambling regulator launches new safer gambling programme

New safer gambling programme

Why the reassessments of consumer protections?

Data, prevention, and player protection