The Department of Security has called for aid for the prevention of pathological gambling

The Department of Security has published the 2026 call for non-profit organizations to finance universal information and prevention activities regarding pathological gambling. The Order of September 8, 2026, by the Minister of Security, Bingen Zupiria Gorostidi, was published in the Official Gazette of the Basque Country (BOPV) number 176, on September 15, 2026, with reference 2026/3890.

Gambling is considered a social, ludic, and fun activity, but it can become pathological gambling when the player loses emotional freedom, resulting in a highly disabling disorder that directly affects behavior and develops progressively and chronically. This disorder leads to the individual’s personal, family, social, and professional breakdown, becoming a public health problem.

Framework and Budget of the Call

The Order is based on Article 10 of the General Gambling Regulations of the Basque Country, approved by Decree 120/2016, which establishes the principles of responsible gambling. The call is located within the 8th Strategic Objective of the Strategic Plan for Grants 2025-2028 of the Department of Security, concerning the prevention of risks derived from gambling addiction.

The call will allocate a maximum of 100,000 euros, from budget item 07 6113 22 452 26/1201 of the 2026 budgets, approved by Law 7/2025 (December 23). The grants will be awarded under a competitive regime, and each organization may receive a maximum of 15% of the budget item.

Beneficiary Organizations and Subsidizable Activities

Non-profit organizations may apply, provided that their main activity is carried out in the Basque Autonomous Community and they meet the following conditions:

• Being legally constituted and registered in the corresponding registries at least one year prior to the call.
• Being non-profit, having the form of an association, foundation, social entrepreneurship cooperative, or another non-mercantile legal form.
• Being up to date with tax and Social Security obligations, and up to date with obligations regarding the repayment of grants.
• Not carrying out activities that promote LGTBIfobia, according to Law 4/2023.

Subsidizable activities include identifying risk factors prior to pathological gambling, making the characteristics of responsible gambling known, promoting indicators of problematic gambling, informing about the risks of new technologies, and disseminating public and private resources against pathological gambling. Projects may be directed at minors, youth, women, families, and the educational community, and must be implemented between January 1 and December 31, 2026.

Application, Evaluation, and Payment

Applications must be submitted within one month, starting from the day following the publication of the order in the BOPV, via electronic means at the electronic headquarters of the Public Administration of the Basque Country (https://www.euskadi.eus/servicios/1109107). Management will be carried out by the Directorate of Games and Spectacles, and grants will be awarded by resolution of the Undersecretary of Civil Protection.

The evaluation will be carried out by the Assessment Committee, and the criteria include: the technical quality of the activity (30 points), coordination and networking with other organizations (10 points), gender perspective (10 points), and the use of the Basque language (10 points). Grants may finance up to 75% of the project’s budget deficit, and payment will be split: 60% after the grant is approved and 40% after the justification report is submitted, before December 31, 2026.

This call is of particular importance, as it treats pathological gambling as a public health problem and ensures public funding for universal prevention activities, which are often carried out solely by associations. In this way, the Department of Security and the Department of Health together complete the prevention and care network against gambling addiction, from universal prevention to specialized assistance.

Fuente: Official Gazette of the Basque Country, number 176, September 15, 2026, section I (official reference: 2026/3890).