The Council of Ministers in Spain has approved a Royal Decree, placing further controls on online gaming access, and requiring operators to create safer online environments.
What the announcement describes as ‘serious infractions’ will be punishable by a €1m fine and six-month gaming licence suspension. And ‘very serious violations’ will carry a €50m fine and permanent licence removal.
The objective of these new regulations is to better protect vulnerable players and minimise behaviour that could lead to problem gambling.
The new regulations also identify all 18 to 25 year olds as ‘vulnerable’, plus all players incurring specified levels of short-term loss and all those who have self-excluded. Operators must notify all ‘vulnerable’ players, and all those engaging in ‘risky behaviour’. This should include providing a monthly summary of each player’s gaming activity.
When an operator detects a user is at risk or may fall into it, they must contact the individual. The goal is to receive a response from the player within 72 hours. If the player has no response in this timeframe, the operator must suspend the user’s account. The government hasn’t laid out how operators will make this determination.
In addition, new marketing controls include restrictions on invitations to events and VIP and loyalty programmes and bans on the use of terminology that is considered to be an inducement to further play.
