The Council of Ministers of Spain has appointed Andrés Barragán Urbiola as Secretary General of Consumption and Gaming. In this role, Urbiola will oversee Spain’s ongoing federal overhaul of gambling laws, a directive led by the Ministry of Consumer Affairs. This appointment is part of a broader strategy to strengthen the regulation and safety of Spain’s gambling sector.

Leadership and Legislative Reforms

Pablo Bustinduy, Spain’s Minister of Consumer Affairs and Social Rights, advocated the need for a dedicated minister to oversee gambling reforms. Bustinduy has assumed the remit of gambling reforms from his predecessor, Alberto Garzon, who chose not to serve in Spain’s new ‘progressive left’ coalition government.

Since 2020, under Garzon’s leadership, Spain has undertaken a significant reorganization of its gambling laws, focusing on unified standards and centralized controls for both online and land-based gambling. Key among these reforms was the “Royal Decree on Gambling Advertising,” which reshaped the gambling landscape by banning betting sponsorships and restricting gambling advertisements to late-night hours.

In 2023, Garzon introduced the “Royal Decree on Responsible Gaming Environments,” preparing the Spanish gambling industry for additional changes. These include the implementation of a centralized player registry and the mandatory documentation of risk profiles for younger consumers, particularly those under 25.

Strategic Appointment

Appointing Urbiola as Secretary General of Consumption and Gaming is a strategic move by Spain’s government to continue its rigorous overhaul of gambling laws. Urbiola, who has a strong background in economic policy and financial analysis, was personally selected by Bustinduy to lead the federal reforms for the gambling sector.

Urbiola brings diverse experience from his tenure at the Ministry of Economy, Commerce, and Business, where he played a pivotal role in designing support measures for companies during the pandemic and planning Spain’s Transformation and Resilience Recovery Plan. His expertise in economic strategy and policy development makes him well-suited to navigate the complexities of gambling reform.

Focus on Compliance and Safety

As Secretary General, Urbiola’s primary focus will be on implementing and enhancing the measures laid out in recent decrees. By 2024, he aims to ensure that Spanish gambling operators comply with some of the strictest regulations in Europe. This includes strict adherence to advertising restrictions and robust mechanisms to protect younger and vulnerable consumers from gambling-related harms.

The appointment underscores Spain’s commitment to fostering a safer gambling environment and addressing gambling addiction challenges. It aligns with the new Action Plan on Addictions for 2025-2028, which Bustinduy will lead, focusing on comprehensive strategies to mitigate the risks associated with gambling.

Source:

Spain appoints Urbiola as ‘dedicated minister’ of federal gambling reforms, SBC News, June 25, 2024.

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Alabama lawmakers will convene on 6 February to deliberate on a comprehensive gaming bill that could usher in a new era for the state’s gambling landscape. The proposed legislation aims to introduce many of the most common types of gambling and institute the formation of an Alabama Gaming Commission, a brand-new regulatory body.

Gambling in Alabama Remains a Contentious Topic

Alabama’s constitution currently prohibits gambling, but there are 18 constitutional amendments allowing specific forms of gaming in certain regions. The legality of these provisions has long been a matter of contention among officials. However, unified gaming legislation should finally settle the matter and significantly expand available wagering options while introducing updated customer protection standards.

Governor Kay Ivey’s 2020 Study Group on Gambling Policy Report reveals that the potential windfall from gambling could reach up to $710 million annually. A lottery could generate $200-300 million, casino gaming $300-400 million, and sports betting $10 million. Revenue generated from taxes and fees under this bill would contribute to the Education Budget and the General Fund Budget.

Updated Regulations Should Create a Level Playing Field

Local news outlet 1819 News revealed that the upcoming bill likely intends to repeal all 18 constitutional amendments related to gambling. Additionally, the legislation aims to intensify efforts against illegal gaming, upgrading it from a misdemeanor to a felony with substantial financial penalties. Penalties for repeated offenses will also see an increase.

The bill proposes allowing Class III gaming in specific areas through an open-bidding process, replacing existing constitutional amendments. These areas include locations on federally recognized tribal lands operated by the Poarch Band of Creek Indians, Birmingham, Macon County, Greene County, Lowndes County, Houston County, Mobile County, and an undetermined county in Northeast Alabama.

Alabama Voters Will Have the Final Say

Each Class III gaming operation licensed by the commission may apply for one sports gaming license. The commission will issue all other sports gaming licenses not associated with a Class III gaming establishment with provisions for online sports betting. Other forms of online gaming will remain prohibited, but this measure still marks substantial progress.

Officials stress that this bill would not legalize gambling in Alabama without input from state voters but rather substantially reduce the number of gambling establishments due to the crackdown on illegal gaming. As a constitutional amendment, the bill would need a three-fifths majority in both legislative chambers, followed by a successful referendum, likely during the November general election.

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A recent ABC News article delved into the story of an anonymous gambling addiction victim who shared his experiences, revealing the lack of player protection mechanisms in many Australian jurisdictions. His recovery story can be a valuable lesson for Australian authorities as they rally to bring order to the country’s gambling sector and introduce measures to curb rapidly rising gambling addiction rates.

Australia Remains Wracked with Problem Gambling

Michael, a 45-year-old Queensland resident, shared his unfortunate experiences after he placed his first bet on a horse race at age 17. The following decades of addiction saw him suffer from bankruptcy and heartbreak as his life hit rock bottom. Michael managed to recover and remains an active member of Gamblers Anonymous, but highlighted several concerning industry trends.

Michael voiced concerns about the accessibility of gambling to young people, especially with rampant advertising. He noted that the introduction of online wagering had made it easier than ever to get hooked, advocating for limited or complete gambling advertising bans and emphasizing the importance of support systems like Gamblers Anonymous. His opinions align with many industry experts who believe it is time for urgent change.

There are five times as many gambling ads on TV for sports or race betting than there are alcohol ads.

Alex Russell, CQUniversity Gambling Research Laboratory academic 

The federal government conducted an inquiry in late June, revealing Australians as the world’s highest per capita spenders on gambling, losing $25 billion annually. The study recommended a phased ban on all gambling advertising across states and territories within three years, citing concerns about grooming children into gamblers.

The Government Has Been Slow to Respond

Despite evidence of rising gambling harm, the Australian federal government has not enacted any advertising recommendations and is still deliberating its response. The Alliance for Gambling Reform, through chief advocate Tim Costello, urges swift action, accusing the delay of signaling a cozy relationship between the government and the betting industry.

Minister for Social Services Amanda Rishworth and Minister for Communications Michelle Rowland issued a joint statement, expressing the government’s intent to consider the report’s recommendations and collaborate with stakeholders for a response. However, the gambling industry remains reluctant to reduce advertising without regulation, citing fears of losing out to competitors.

We need a more coordinated approach to reducing gambling advertising that’s fair for everyone.

Alex Russell, CQUniversity Gambling Research Laboratory academic

Michael’s story emphasizes the urgent need for regulatory action, not just for those currently afflicted by gambling addiction but also to safeguard the future generation. While Australia has achieved some progress, problem gambling remains a rising concern. Decisive action and new, effective regulations remain the only feasible option to combat this pervasive issue.

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Responsible gambling is one of the hot topics of the modern gambling industry as many markets and operators seek to protect players from harm. Australia, according to the BBC, is not doing all that well.

According to the news outlet, about 1 in every 100 Australians has some sort of a gambling problem. Much of the harm is caused by electronic slot machines or poker machines, both known as pokies by locals.

Some of the most vulnerable people sometimes end up in debt, spending thousands on losing bets. A recent estimate by H2 Gambling Capital shows that if gambling losses were averaged over all adult Australians, each of them would lose around $800 (converted to USD) a year.

A Former Addict Spoke with the BBC

BBC spoke with Kate Seselja, a former addict who once lost $336,000 to gambling. She played for 12 years and would sometimes cry when her money ran out. She even contemplated suicide but finally decided against it because she was pregnant with her sixth child at the time.

Seselja said that she had felt “emotionally done” with her existence and wanted to end it all but didn’t want to end her child’s life.

Seselja says that people are always warning others about smoking and alcohol but pokies are rarely mentioned in such conversations. She was introduced to pokies at the age of 18 when she wagered $20 and won hundreds. This made her feel lucky and clever, which is why she continued to play as her addiction worsened.

Eventually, the woman started spending all her money on gambling and even began lying to her family in order to get money for gambling. Luckily, after more than a decade, Seselja managed to overcome her addiction. However, she was but one of many Australians struggling with problem gambling.

Pokies Are Everywhere

One of the biggest problems about pokies is how ubiquitous they are. Despite housing just 0.33% of the world’s population, the country fields a whopping fifth of all pokies. These can be found in casinos, pubs, clubs and even hotels.

Games are often designed to be addictive and to congratulate players even when they are losing money. To make matters worse, pokies are oftentimes concentrated in vulnerable communities. Dr Livingstone from Monash University told the BBC that this is nothing short of exploitation of at-risk people.

While Australia’s Gaming Technologies Association says that the machines are fair and designed with safer gambling in mind. A spokeswoman noted that millions of people enjoy the vertical harm-free. However, Seselja argues that even if not all people experience harm, that doesn’t mean that the game is harmless.

Perrottet Hopes to Reform NSW Gambling

Many people in Australia and New South Wales in particular hope for a change. With elections looming in the Australian state, some hope that the problematic machines will finally be addressed.

Should he get re-elected, Premier Dominic Perrottet promises to introduce spending limits and make all machines cash-free within five years. Despite the favorable pokies tax revenue, Australia cannot continue to benefit from people’s misery, Perrottet says.

However, not all agree with Perrottet and his measures. While certain organizations and reformed addicts such as Seselja have welcomed his proposal, others say that he should instead focus on banning criminals from gaming rooms, instead of forcing everyone to go cashless.

At the same time, ClubsNSW continues to lobby against significant changes in the sector, because of the negative impact they may have on its members. Pressure from the union previously prevented an earlier attempt by MP Andrew Wilkie to introduce gambling reforms.

Wilkie hopes that Perrottet will be able to do better and introduce his reforms in spite of the opposition. However, Seselja is less optimistic about Perrottet’s re-election. She grimly noted that Australia is the number one country in terms of gambling harm and that there is something “profoundly wrong there.”

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ABC reported that Victor Dominello, a senior Liberal minister from New South Wales, has spoken out about the power and impact of ClubsNSW, an influential gambling lobby group that he claims forced him out of his portfolio. 

Dominello Slams ClubsNSW as the ‘Gun Lobby’ of Australia’s Gambling Industry

In an interview for ABC’s Four Corners, Dominello accused the group of being like “the equivalent of the gun lobby in the United States“. The not-for-profit lobby group represents over 1,000 registered clubs across the state, which collectively own and operate more than 64,000 poker machines. 

ClubsNSW has defeated previous attempts at gambling reform and is currently facing its greatest test yet at the NSW election where the introduction of mandatory cashless gambling for poker machines is a central election issue. 

Dominello was responsible for gambling policy when he floated the introduction of a mandatory cashless gambling card for all poker machines in the state in 2020, a reform aimed at addressing problem gambling. It was strongly opposed by ClubsNSW, which claimed it would cost 9,000 jobs and devastate clubs by slashing their revenue by up to 30%. 

Dominello said that ClubsNSW’s view was extremely strident against it, and they showed no willingness to compromise. The clubs’ message found a receptive audience in Dominello’s Coalition colleagues, the Nationals, who feared the reforms would damage clubs in their rural heartlands. When Dominello declined to attend an awards dinner hosted by ClubsNSW, Nationals leader John Barilaro texted him with abusive language.

Growing Calls for Inquiry into Lobby Group’s Influence Over NSW Governments

According to Victor Dominello, ClubsNSW exhibited an excessive level of confidence in its influence in New South Wales and took pride in its achievement of thwarting poker machine reforms proposed by former Prime Minister Julia Gillard ten years ago.

Dominello was eventually stripped of his gaming portfolio by Premier Dominic Perrottet, and the portfolio was handed over to the Nationals. The succession of agreements ClubsNSW has struck before elections over the past decade has also eroded faith in democracy. 

These documents, formally known as Memoranda of Understanding, bind incoming coalition governments to detailed pledges about the regulatory environment that clubs will operate in over the ensuing four years, including no new increases to poker machine tax rates. 

The agreements were signed by then-opposition leader Barry O’Farrell in 2010, his successor as premier, Mike Baird, in 2014, and premier Gladys Berejiklian in 2018. The calls for an inquiry into the influence of the lobby group over governments are growing louder, and Dominello hopes that the next term of government will address the issue for the sake of democracy.

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