TITLE: Spain's Ministry of Social Rights Launches Public Consultation on Gaming Law Amendments
BODY:
On June 22, 2025, Spain's Ministry of Social Rights, Consumption and the 2030 Agenda opened a public consultation on proposed amendments to the Gaming Regulation Act (Law 13/2011 of May 27). The consultation invites citizens, organizations, and associations to submit opinions on the draft bill through June 22, 2025, via email to dgoj.sgregulacion@ordenacionjuego.gob.es.
The proposed amendments address four key areas. First, the government seeks to strengthen identity verification requirements for participants using electronic, digital, and interactive channels. This responds to documented identity fraud cases: in 2023, 7,712 individuals (4.7 percent of gaming winners) reported that their identities were used fraudulently to evade taxation on gaming winnings exceeding €100. This figure rose to 8,675 individuals (4 percent) in the 2024 tax year. Second, the amendments aim to expand the regulatory framework to include gaming service providers as institutional actors responsible for market management and supervision, recognizing their critical role in combating illegal gaming. Third, the bill proposes comprehensive updates to consumer protection and safer gaming policies, reflecting accumulated administrative experience and allowing greater flexibility in future regulatory developments, particularly for vulnerable populations. Fourth, the amendments modernize advertising regulations contained in Articles 7 and 7 bis of the current law, addressing aggressive promotional strategies—such as welcome bonuses—and celebrity endorsements that minimize risk awareness. This follows the Spanish Supreme Court's annulment of portions of Royal Decree 958/2020 on gaming communications. The government also proposes updating the sanctions regime to align with projected modifications.
Respondents must identify themselves for submissions to be considered. The consultation seeks input on the problems addressed, necessity and timeliness of approval, normative objectives, and alternative regulatory and non-regulatory solutions.