A recent study published by Loss of loss magazineOn June 13, 2025, Spain’s gambling advertisements reveal the significant impact of restrictions and bonising restrictions Country’s online gambling industryResearch analyzing data from General of the Spanish Directorate for gambling regulation suggests that the number of new online gambling accounts fell 55% in 2023 in 2023, falling from 3.01 million to 1.35 million in 2020, when the Royal DiCrie 958/2020 was introduced.
Effect of royal decree on new accounts
Royal decree, which came into force in November 2020, installed Strict ban on gambling advertisementInvolved Limit TV and radio ads to a narrow window between 1 am and 5 pm, Ban on sponsorship deals, And prohibit the use of celebrities In advertisements. Measures also included a ban on welcome bonus, which was found to be one of the primary factors contributing to the decline in the new account sign-up in the study.
According to the study, the decrease in new registration continued in three consecutive years, with the fastest fall in 2022, when New sign-up declined by 35% Compared to 2021. The data indicates that the new account sign-ups were growing in the year before the restrictions were effective in 2020.
Decline in marketing and boncing expenses
The new rules also had a significant impact on marketing and boncing expenses. The total amount spent on advertisement fell from € 193.7 million in 2020 to € 116.5 million in 2022. Bonsing expenses also fell from € 189.5 million in 2020 to € 165.9 million in 2023. The most dramatic decrease in sponsorship spending was observedIn 2020, from € 25.76 million to just € 2.67 million in 2022, slightly increased to € 3.59 million in 2023.
Other major conclusions from research
Despite the significant decline in the sign-up of the new account, research found that T.He saw an increase in overall amount stakes and total depositsFrom 2020 to 2023, the player increased from € 2.19 billion to € 3.18 billion, while the total amount increased from € 20.75 billion to € 26.5 billion. However, in 2022 there was a slight decline in the total amount of amount, when it declined from € 25.33 billion to € 25.25 billion in 2021.
The study also states that restrictions had a limited impact on active accounts, which remained relatively stable. Active accounts are defined as those in which players have laid at least one condition in a given month.
Supreme Court ruling and U-turn on some measures
In April 2024, Supreme Court of Spain partially overturned Many provisions of royal decree. The court upheld the appeal by the Spanish Digital Gaming Association, leading Naming of Article 13Which banned targeted marketing on new account holders. In addition, the ban on the use of celebrities in advertisements and a ban on gambling advertisements on video-sharing platforms such as YouTube was also overturned.
These changes are expected to provide some relief to gambling operators, allowing them to return to marketing of new players, which is an important aspect of customer acquisition.
Further viewing: The effect of regulation on gambling behavior
While the Royal decree significantly reduced marketing activities and gambling behavior, the authors of the study suggest that long -term effects may be more fine. He said that while the number of new accounts has decreased, active players and overall gambling activity remains relatively stable, which can indicate the success of regulation in reducing the initiation of new gambling behavior without completely stifing to existing players.
Can serve as a model for Spain’s findings Other countries Keeping in mind similar regulatory measures to reduce gambling damage. Other European countries such as Germany, Netherlands and Italy have also implemented strict gambling advertising rules, Spain experience provides valuable insight into the potential benefits and challenges of such policies.
Source:
Impact of Spanish gambling rules on online gambling behavior and marketing strategiesharmeductionjournal.biomedentral.com, 13 June, 2025
