A recent study published by the Harm Reduction Journalon June 13, 2025, reveals the significant impact of Spain’s gambling advertising restrictions and bonusing ban on the country’s online gambling industry. The research, which analyzed data from the Spanish Directorate General for the Regulation of Gambling (DGOJ), shows that the number of new online gambling accounts fell by 55% in 2023, dropping to 1.35 million from 3.01 million in 2020, when the Royal Decree 958/2020 was introduced.
Impact of the Royal Decree on New Accounts
The Royal Decree, which came into effect in November 2020, imposed strict restrictions on gambling advertising, including limiting TV and radio commercials to a narrow window between 1 a.m. and 5 a.m., banning sponsorship deals, and prohibiting the use of celebrities in advertisements. The measures also included a ban on welcome bonuses, which the study found to be one of the primary factors contributing to the decline in new account sign-ups.
According to the study, the decrease in new registrations continued over three consecutive years, with the sharpest decline occurring in 2022, when new sign-ups dropped by 35% compared to 2021. The data indicates that new account sign-ups had been increasing year on year before the restrictions took effect in 2020.
Decline in Marketing and Bonusing Spend
The new regulations also had a significant impact on marketing and bonusing expenditures. The total amount spent on advertising fell from €193.7 million in 2020 to €116.5 million in 2022. Bonusing spend also dropped significantly from €189.5 million in 2020 to €165.9 million in 2023. Sponsorship spending saw the most dramatic decrease, from €25.76 million in 2020 to just €2.67 million in 2022, before rising slightly to €3.59 million in 2023.
Other Key Findings from the Research
Despite the significant drop in new account sign-ups, the research found that the overall amount bet and total deposits saw an increase. From 2020 to 2023, player deposits rose from €2.19 billion to €3.18 billion, while the total amount bet increased from €20.75 billion to €26.5 billion. However, there was a slight dip in the total amount bet in 2022, when it decreased from €25.33 billion in 2021 to €25.25 billion.
The study also noted that the restrictions had a limited impact on active accounts, which remained relatively steady. Active accounts are defined as those in which players have placed at least one bet in a given month.
Supreme Court Ruling and U-Turn on Some Measures
In April 2024, Spain’s Supreme Court partially overturned several of the Royal Decree’s provisions. The court upheld an appeal by the Spanish Digital Gaming Association, leading to the annulment of Article 13, which had prohibited marketing targeted at new account holders. Additionally, the ban on the use of celebrities in advertisements and the restriction on gambling ads on video-sharing platforms like YouTube were also overturned.
These changes are expected to bring some relief to gambling operators, allowing them to return to marketing new players, a crucial aspect of customer acquisition.
Looking Ahead: Impact of Regulation on Gambling Behavior
While the Royal Decree significantly curtailed marketing activities and gambling behavior, the study’s authors suggest that the long-term effects may be more nuanced. They noted that while the number of new accounts has decreased, active players and overall gambling activity remain relatively stable, which could point to the regulation’s success in reducing the initiation of new gambling behaviors without completely stifling existing players.
The findings from Spain could serve as a model for other countries considering similar regulatory measures aimed at reducing gambling-related harm. As other European nations like Germany, the Netherlands, and Italy have also enacted stricter gambling advertising regulations, Spain’s experience offers valuable insights into the potential benefits and challenges of such policies.
Source:
Impact of Spanish Gambling Regulations on Online Gambling Behavior and Marketing Strategies, harmreductionjournal.biomedcentral.com, June 13, 2025