Spain’s Gambling Ad Ban Cuts New Accounts by 55%

According to a new study, Spain’s 2020 Royal Decree, which ruled for gambling advertisement restrictions, has helped significantly diminish the number of new player accounts.

New Gambling Accounts in Spain Have Fallen in Number

Implemented five years ago, the 2020 Royal Decree aimed to prevent minors from being exposed to gambling ads by changing the laws around advertising in the industry. Now, a recently published study by the peer-reviewed Harm Reduction Journal showed that the number of new online gambling accounts opened in 2023 dropped to 1.35 million. This marks a 55% decrease from the 3.01 million recorded in 2020, which is attributed to Spain’s gambling advertising restrictions and the ban on promotional bonuses introduced that year.

The data was sourced from company reports and compiled by Spain’s gambling regulator, the Directorate General for the Regulation of Gambling (DGOJ). It indicated that the regulatory measures introduced led to a lasting reduction in gambling activity, particularly in the number of new accounts and overall gross gaming revenue (GGR).

When the Royal decree was enacted, it introduced sweeping restrictions: gambling sponsorships were banned, TV and radio advertisements were limited to a 5 am to 1 am window, and the use of celebrities, influencers, and platforms like YouTube for gambling promotions was prohibited. These measures were rolled out between November 2020 and August 2021, with the sponsorship ban coming into effect after the 2020–21 Spanish football season.

The Royal Decree can be regarded as one of the steps towards Spain’s ultimate goal of creating a safer gambling environment for its citizens. Recently, the country’s Directorate General for the Regulation of Gambling has put forward new plans to boost player safety and encourage responsible gambling. 

Player Deposits Still Saw a Significant Rise

Despite fewer new accounts being registered, player deposits continue to rise. While the Spanish government achieved some of its objectives with the new gambling regulations, the total player deposits continued to grow in the three years following the introduction of the legislation.

Deposits steadily increased from €2.19 billion ($2.35 billion) in 2020 to €3.18 billion ($3.42 billion) in 2023, marking an almost 50% increase. Under the Royal Decree, new laws introduced deposit limits, capping daily deposits at €600 ($645), weekly at €1,500 ($1,610), and monthly at €3,000 ($3,220).

Wagering volumes also climbed, with the total amount bet rising from €20.75 billion ($22.24 billion) in 2020 to €26.5 billion ($28.39 billion) in 2023. A slight dip occurred in 2022, with total wagers falling marginally to €25.25 billion ($27.03 billion) from €25.33 billion ($27.12 billion) in 2021.