Proposed Reform of Spanish Gambling Law: Public Consultation on Preliminary Draft

The Spanish Government has just announced the opening of a public consultation notice for a Preliminary Draft amending Spanish Gambling Law (Preliminary Draft), which would consist of a new Law amending Spanish Gambling Act 13/2011. This implies that the Spanish DGOJ is opening the participatory process for a comprehensive reform of Spanish gambling regulation at the national level, with the aim that citizens, organizations, and associations can contribute their views on the development of amendments to the Spanish Gambling Act 13/2011.

The Spanish DGOJ considers that the nearly fifteen years that have passed since the entry into force of Spanish Gambling Act 13/2011, and the experience gained during this period, reveal the need to consider amending the law to strengthen certain aspects aimed at improving the protection of public order, the fight against fraud and illegal gambling, and the protection of participants.

From the previous announcements made by the DGOJ, our understanding is that the Preliminary Draft could address:

1. Advertising, promotion, and sponsorship – Reinstating and expanding restrictions on gambling advertising (particularly on social media and video platforms), prohibiting celebrity endorsements and sign-up bonuses, and limiting promotions to existing customers only.
2. Payment methods – Requiring all payment methods to be nominative and registered in the player’s name, effectively banning anonymous prepaid cards and similar instruments.
3. Gambling Suppliers Registry – Mandating registration of all gambling service providers (B2B) with the DGOJ.
4. Player protection and responsible gambling – Incorporating joint deposit limits, standardized risky-behaviour detection algorithms, and new responsible gambling warnings in advertising materials.
5. AML compliance – Adapting to the new EU AML/CFT framework and introducing enhanced due diligence obligations.
6. International cooperation – Strengthening mechanisms for cross-border enforcement against illegal gambling operators.

Nonetheless, we should wait for the final Preliminary Draft to verify the points covered by the document.

This public consultation is the first formal step in Spain’s legislative process for new laws, allowing stakeholders to provide input before the government drafts the full text of the bill. Comments can be submitted until June 22, 2026. After the formal Preliminary Draft is published, operators will be in a position to file further public comments before parliamentary debate.

You can read about the different gambling regimes in almost 50 jurisdictions in the DLA Piper Gambling Laws of the World guide.