The Spanish government’s budget for 2019 is expected to include advertising restrictions for licensed gambling, as the minority administration of the Socialist Workers’ Party, the PSOE, seeks to overhaul the country’s advertising code.
Last week, Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez (PSOE) struck a budget proposal deal with socialist Podemos party leader Pablo Iglesias.
Branded a “socially progressive budget”, it sees the PSOE move towards its first legislative victory since taking leadership of Spain’s government in June, following the resignation of Partido Popular’s Mariano Rajoy in relation to corruption charges.
The agreed budget is reported to include a mandate seeking to restrict/limit the advertising of “predatory industries”, such as betting, pay-day loans and credit lending, which target Spanish consumers.
A number of Spanish news sources report that PSOE and Podemos will seek to toughen Spain’s advertising standards with regards to betting advertising/marketing practices, although the details of this remain unclear.
Spanish regulator DGOJ is currently overseeing its third licensing window, which is due to close on December 17, further expanding Spain’s online gambling marketplace. Leading Spanish newspaper, El Pais reports that PSOE will “treat betting like tobacco”, implementing tougher restrictions aimed at protecting minors and vulnerable consumers.
Meanwhile, elDiario.es reported that PSOE and Podemos will move to significantly reduce betting-related adverts aired during TV sports broadcasts and across radio.
Furthermore, a new advertising code would ban Spain-licensed operators from utilising celebrities or athletes to promote gambling products/services.
PSOE will present its budget to the EU on October 15, seeking to gain approval on its spending plans and fiscal policies. The budget will then be forwarded to Spain’s Congress for a final vote.