The expansion of state-run games, such as the increase in sales of the Christmas lottery and ONCE scratch cards, has raised concerns in the private gaming sector in Spain. Alejandro Landaluce, General Director of the Gaming Business Council (Cejuego), highlighted these facts, pointing out that while public products are experiencing notable growth and visible advertising campaigns, the private sector faces advertising restrictions and restrictions imposed by the government. This context frames the critical position expressed by the gaming industry on the government’s recent regulations and actions.
As Europa Press reports, Cejuego has accused the Ministry of Social Rights, Consumption and Agenda 2030 of taking measures that, in his opinion, harm the private sector through restrictions and measures that, in his view, are aimed more at arousing social concern than at creating an effective and fair regulatory framework. Landaluce criticized initiatives such as the introduction of common deposit limits and the requirement for alerts on online betting portals, describing these strategies as ineffective and having a greater impact on stigmatizing the industry than on actual consumer behavior. According to Europa Press, the majority of users engage in behavior that is subject to rational parameters and does not rely on warnings that they classify as “catastrophic” to regulate their leisure consumption.
Landaluce stressed that the gaming industry is aware of the importance of protecting vulnerable groups and moving towards responsible behavior. However, he questioned what he described as a “double standard” in the application of restrictions, noting that private gambling is subject to strict controls in its communications, while advertising products from public bodies such as ONCE and the State Lottery and Betting Society (Selae) is permitted and even preferred. To illustrate this point, he cited the promotion of the Christmas lottery, its advertising and the social impact demonstrated by the long queues at official points of sale.
According to Europa Press, the rise of ONCE scratch cards also caught the attention of employers, who called for these products to be subject to the same restrictions that apply to private gambling, given their prevalence among minors. Landaluce emphasized the need to maintain equitable, consistent regulation based on verifiable data. In his opinion, competition with public games is particularly complex for the private sector due to the institutional support and the social perception that citizens contribute to social causes through participation in these products, which, in his opinion, does not exclude the growth of ONCE products from representing a cause for concern.
The regulatory framework proposed by the authorities and some of the recently announced measures, such as global deposit limits of 600 euros per day or 1,500 euros per week for online operators, were cited as examples of potentially counterproductive measures. As Europa Press detailed, employers argued that these controls could encourage the migration of users to unauthorized platforms where there are no safeguards in place. Landaluce warned of the risks of promoting illegal gambling through strict regulations that do not take into account the real profile of the gambling consumer, noting that the lack of controls on unlicensed platforms exposes users to fraudulent practices.
Europa Press media reported that Cejuego sees illegal gambling as one of the biggest challenges for the authorities and the regulated sector. In this sense, Landaluce called on the government and regulators to choose evidence-based measures that can protect users without pushing them underground. The employers’ association also proposed strengthening cooperation on awareness campaigns and information exchange on illegal activities and operators, with the aim of creating a homogeneous regulatory system in which both private and public operators are subject to the same conditions and demand levels.
Finally, Landaluce defended the employers’ position, explaining that the purpose is not to demonize any player in the industry, but to justify the need for regulatory justice. He called for any new legislation to be evidence-based and promote fair competition, which he said would facilitate both consumer protection and the orderly development of the legal sector.
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