Spanish gambling sector calls for urgent update to gambling law at CeJuego forum

Participants at the first CeJuego forum in Madrid called for Spain's gambling law to be updated urgently and for reform to be revived in the next legislative term, after the process was halted by the calling of elections, according to the sector organisation CeJuego. The forum brought together representatives of regional administrations, experts on problem gambling, trade unions and professionals from the hospitality sector and the gambling industry.

The issues raised included clarification of how competences are divided between the State and the autonomous communities, guarantees for public and private operators, and stronger action against illegal gambling. Ramón Cubián, the director general with responsibility for gambling in the Community of Madrid, said the 19 autonomous communities and autonomous cities had asked the Dirección General de Ordenación del Juego (DGOJ) to clarify the competences framework. The regions defend keeping their powers to regulate, authorise, inspect and control land-based gambling.

The economic and employment dimension of the activity was also discussed. Emilio Gallego, secretary general of Hostelería de España, highlighted the contribution of gambling to hospitality businesses and defended the role of type B recreational machines in establishments, saying that "la máquina B es un elemento más que enriquece el bar". According to figures presented at the forum, private land-based and online gambling companies generate close to 50,000 direct jobs and more than 180,000 indirect jobs. The sector considers that any regulatory review should take this economic contribution into account and establish a clear regulatory framework for the different operators.

Protection of young people was another subject addressed. Spain has a problem gambling rate of 0.25% among the population aged 18 to 75, but instant lotteries are among the modalities most practised by people aged 18 to 25. Francesc Perendreu, founder and president of the Asociación Centro Catalán de Adicciones Sociales, warned of the risk that products known as "rasca y gana" are perceived as harmless and argued that protection measures should be equivalent regardless of who markets them.

CeJuego called for stronger cooperation between administrations and operators to combat illegal gambling. The concern intensified after the Government acknowledged that it had not collected €465m in fines imposed on illegal operators since 2022. The organisation considers it necessary to have effective tools to prevent these companies from operating without a licence and outside established controls.