Spain Allocates €950,620 for Gambling Harm Research

Spain Allocates €950,620 for Gambling Harm Research – DGOJ Expands Focus on Prevention and Regulatory Reform

Key Takeaways

• Spain’s Ministry of Social Rights has launched a €950,620 competitive grant programme to fund research on gambling-related harm.
• The Directorate General for the Regulation of Gambling (DGOJ) will administer the fund, with projects running between 1 January 2026 and 30 June 2027.
• Research must address one of six priority areas, including early detection of risky behaviour and links between video games and gambling.
• The announcement follows a new public consultation on amendments to Spain’s Gambling Regulation Act, including tighter advertising controls.

Spanish Government Launches Competitive Research Fund

Spain’s Ministry of Social Rights, Consumer Affairs and Agenda 2030 has announced a competitive grant programme with a total budget of €950,620 to support research into gambling-related harm. The initiative was published as an extract in the official government bulletin, the Boletin Oficial del Estado.

The Directorate General for the Regulation of Gambling, known as the DGOJ, will administer the programme. Applications are open to institutions with an established research focus on gambling studies. Eligible entities include public and private universities, health institutions, non-profit organisations and development centres.

Projects funded under the programme must begin no earlier than 1 January 2026 and conclude by 30 June 2027. The structure as a competitive grant indicates that applicants will be assessed against defined thematic priorities.

Six Thematic Priorities Define Scope of Funded Research

The DGOJ has outlined six thematic lines that submitted projects must address.

The first priority is the early detection of individuals exhibiting risky or severe gambling behaviours. This includes identifying patterns that may signal escalation before harm becomes entrenched.

The second area covers individual, family or societal harm linked to gambling, including mental health impacts and financial difficulties. This reflects a broader public health framing of gambling-related risks.

A third thematic line focuses on the development of tools, mechanisms or processes designed to mitigate adverse consequences of gambling.

The fourth priority examines connections between the video game sector and gambling. This includes lotteries, games of chance, poker and betting, and reflects regulatory attention on the convergence between gaming mechanics and gambling products.

The fifth area addresses structural characteristics of lotteries, games of chance, poker and betting businesses. This suggests an interest in how product design or operational models may influence user behaviour.

Finally, the sixth thematic line requires analysis of gender-related impacts on risky or severe gambling behaviours. The government has stated that gambling harm can affect demographic groups differently and may require tailored prevention strategies.

Increased Regulatory Focus on Youth and Hybrid Gaming Mechanics

The new research fund forms part of a broader regulatory agenda by the DGOJ. In March, the regulator released its Safe Gambling Programme for 2026 to 2030. That programme highlighted concerns about behavioural patterns associated with loot boxes, social casino products and other hybrid gaming features.

According to the DGOJ, such mechanics may normalise gambling behaviours among minors and young adults. The inclusion of video game related themes in the new research priorities aligns with this focus.

By allocating funding to examine these issues, the regulator is formalising research into areas where gaming and gambling models intersect. This has implications for operators offering online betting, casino products and gaming style features, particularly where younger demographics are involved.

Public Consultation on Advertising and Gambling Law Amendments

The research fund announcement comes days after the DGOJ launched a public consultation on proposed amendments to Spain’s Gambling Regulation Act.

Among the measures under consideration are tighter rules on the use of famous people or influencers in gambling advertising. Under the proposals, advertising from gambling operators would only appear if a consumer directly searches for betting brands online.

Spain has introduced several regulatory reforms in recent years. A Royal Decree adopted in 2020 banned gambling sponsorship deals and imposed significant restrictions on television and radio advertising, including a watershed period between 5am and 1am. The original decree also prohibited the use of famous people and influencers in advertising.

However, in April 2024, that measure, along with others, was overturned. The new consultation signals that advertising restrictions remain an active policy area.

Research conducted last summer found that new online gambling accounts had decreased by more than half since the Royal Decree’s introduction. In 2023, 1.35 million new online gambling accounts were opened, compared with 3.01 million in 2020. This represents a decline of 55 percent over that period.

Implications for Operators and Platform Users

For operators active in Spain, the allocation of research funding and the parallel consultation on advertising rules indicate continued regulatory engagement with gambling-related harm.

The thematic scope of the research programme shows that authorities are examining not only individual behaviour but also product structures and cross sector links between gaming and gambling. For international users comparing crypto betting platforms or online casinos, this signals that Spain remains focused on stricter oversight, particularly in areas involving youth exposure and marketing practices.

The combination of empirical research funding and potential legislative amendments suggests that future regulatory adjustments may be informed by the findings generated through this programme.

Our Assessment

Spain has committed €950,620 to fund academic and institutional research on gambling-related harm, with projects running through mid 2027 and covering six defined priority areas. The initiative follows the publication of the DGOJ’s Safe Gambling Programme for 2026 to 2030 and coincides with a public consultation on amendments to the Gambling Regulation Act, including potential new advertising restrictions. Together, these steps show a continued regulatory focus on prevention, product design and marketing practices within the Spanish gambling market.