Gaming Regulation sets new gambling addiction warnings in advertising

The General Directorate for Gambling Regulation has approved the technical specifications for messages regarding the harmful effects derived from gambling addiction and the prohibition of participation by minors, which must be incorporated into the commercial communications of gambling activities. The regulation is published in the Official State Gazette (BOE) no. 248, dated October 6, 2026, via the Resolution of September 18, 2026 (reference BOE-A-2026-20745), and will become effective sixty days after its publication.

The resolution develops Royal Decree 958/2020, of November 3, on commercial communications of gambling activities, whose articles 10.4, 10.5, 11.3, and 11.4 authorize the regulatory authority to determine the form, size, layout, contrast, and content of these warnings. The text replaces the message relating to “gambling responsibly” from article 10.3 with a warning about the risk of gambling addiction, in line with Royal Decree 176/2023, of March 14, on safer gambling environments. The resolution, signed by the Director General Mikel Arana Echezarreta, is structured into seven sections and two annexes and affects the entities subject to the supervision of that management center, which depends on the Ministry of Social Rights, Consumption and 2030 Agenda.

Messages to be disseminated

The second section establishes three alternative texts to warn of the harmful effects of gambling, which will always be accompanied by a reference to the safe gambling website www.juegoseguro.es:

• “Gambling addiction is a risk of gambling.”
• “The probability of being a player who loses money is 75%.”
• “The losses of all players exceed their winnings by 4 times.”

In physical media with limited space, the message “Gambling is a risk” may be chosen. The warning regarding minors is uniquely fixed as “Only for those over 18 years old.”

Where and how they must appear

Annex I details the layout of the warnings according to the dissemination channel:

• Audiovisual communication services: the message regarding gambling addiction shall be transmitted orally at the end of the communication for at least two seconds; the warning regarding minors may be oral or graphic, in a lower band of at least 15% height and 100% width.
• Radio: messages must appear in at least one out of every two successive commercial communications from the same operator and provider.
• Display advertising, banners, or pop-up windows: a clearly visible band at the bottom throughout the communication, with 15% height and 100% width.
• Portals, websites, and applications of operators and affiliates: centered messages in display or pop-up window format, with a size equivalent to at least 15% of the visible content for five seconds, and permanently on portals and applications. This does not apply within the operator’s gaming environment.
• Email and equivalent media: image in band format or text adaptation with sufficient visibility and legibility.
• In-person media and supports such as tickets, coupons, or ballots: lower band with 15% height and 100% width, adaptable to the characteristics of the support.

Format, deadlines, and appeals

Annex I also establishes the format: white background, Helvetica bold typography in lowercase and black color, a black frame 18 pixels thick and, on websites and applications, an outer white border of 2 pixels. The message regarding minors and the reference to the website shall use a font size of approximately 60% of that used in the main warning. Messages may not be modified, hidden, obscured, or separated by other indications or images.

Advertising contracts signed before publication may continue to be executed for three months without adapting to the resolution. Communications for the contest gaming modality broadcast by radio audiovisual communication services are exempt. An optional appeal for reversal may be filed against the resolution within one month, and a contentious-administrative appeal within two months.

The regulation harmonizes the warning signage for the entire gaming sector and reinforces the information the public receives regarding the risks of gambling, with special attention to minors. Betting and gaming operators have slightly more than three months to adapt their campaigns and advertising supports before the new messages become mandatory.

Source: Official State Gazette, no. 248, of October 6, 2026, Sec. I, pp. 130577-130585 (official reference: BOE-A-2026-20745).