The Spanish Socialist Workers’ Party (PSOE) has renewed its focus on youth online gambling with a new non-legislative proposal (PNL) presented in the Congress of Deputies.
The motion seeks to promote financial education and awareness among minors aged 14 to 18, with particular emphasis on online gambling operated by the private sector. Public lotteries and scratch cards are not covered by the proposal.
In Spain, a PNL is a parliamentary tool used to propose actions or policies to the Government without creating a binding law. Its purpose is to urge the Government, regional authorities or public institutions to take specific measures.
The initiative calls for better information in schools, expanded research and a stronger focus on financial education. It highlights the link between insufficient financial literacy and risky behaviour, noting that Spain’s level of financial education is below the OECD average.
The PNL urges the Government to take decisive action by implementing measures to raise awareness of the effects and risks of online gambling. According to the 2025 Behavioural Addictions Report, 13% of students have engaged in online gambling, with the average starting age at 14.3 years.
Recently, the Spanish regulator DGOJ presented a Safe Gambling Programme for 2026 to 2030. The framework focuses on prevention, improved control mechanisms and an evidence-based approach.
Other regulatory developments, besides these, focusing on responsible gambling, are also underway in Spain. The Spanish Government’s recent draft Royal Decree aims to strengthen anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing measures by introducing changes to the gambling industry.
These modifications affect customer identification, payment controls and internal procedures, particularly for online operators.
Online gambling in Spain grew in 2025, with GGR reaching €1.7bn, up 16.99% from the previous year
