Spain’s gambling operators brace for new advertising restrictions

The gambling point man for Spain’s new government will meet with the head of the local gaming industry association this week to discuss plans for new advertising restrictions.

On Monday, Spanish media reported that Alberto Garzón, Minister of Consumer Affairs in Spain’s new government, would meet later this week with the head of Consejo Empresarial del Juego (CeJuego), which represents Spain’s private gambling operators, to discuss the government’s plans to rein in gambling ads on radio, TV and online.

Garzón (pictured) will reportedly focus on three elements of the new advertising rules, including a blanket ban on gambling ads during kid-friendly hours (likely 6am-10pm), a requirement for sports betting ads to run only during periods of relativity (say, a football match), and a hard cap on the number of gambling ads that can appear in any single break in the action.

Spain’s online gambling operators have already agreed to a new voluntary code of restraint for promoting their products. The code, which kicked in last month, was intended to fend off threats by the previous government to impose the same harsh restrictions on gambling advertising as those imposed on tobacco products.