The Spanish administration has put into effect a series of fresh measures to uphold social and economic stability in reaction to the COVID-19 outbreak, encompassing stringent limitations on online gambling promotions.
Spain’s Official State Gazette published Royal Decree 11/2020, Article 37, on March 31st, which specifies that gambling operators’ audiovisual communication is restricted to between 1:00 AM and 5:00 AM.
This new advertising timeframe was established in the modifications to the gambling marketing rules that the government unveiled in February.
Nevertheless, the regulations provide an exemption for promoting live sporting events that commence between 8:00 PM and 5:00 AM. As there are currently no sporting events happening, this effectively eliminates advertising from Spanish screens.
Dissemination on digital platforms will also be impacted, prohibiting individual email communication and direct advertising on social media.
Spain has closed its government-owned lottery, Sociedad Estatal Loterías y Apuestas del Estado (SELAE), becoming the most recent nation to implement fresh advertising rules or regulations in response to the Covid-19 pandemic. Furthermore, operators are forbidden from conducting acquisition or retention campaigns that offer financial inducements, bonuses, discounts, free bets or games, odds boosts, or any other form of awards. Local news sources report that the government acted after the country’s gambling regulator, La Dirección General de Ordenación del Juego (DGOJ), disclosed that gambling activity had escalated instead of declining in recent weeks. Advertising content will be monitored, and the decree cautions operators against suggesting or explicitly mentioning the pandemic, or promoting gambling as a means to alleviate boredom. The Malta Gaming Authority has cautioned licensees against referencing Covid-19 in their commercial communications, while the Dutch regulator, Kansspelautoriteit, will impose a €50,000 illicit activity fine for marketing campaigns that mention the pandemic. Meanwhile, the European Gaming and Betting Association (EGBA) has coordinated action among several operator associations across Europe to formulate new guidelines for members. Sign up for the iGaming newsletter.