Spain: SESPAS pushes for a public-health approach to betting regulation, including a higher minimum age and tighter payment controls

Spain’s SESPAS has called for betting rules to be written from a public-health angle rather than a purely commercial one. For PSPs and acquirers, the useful part is simple: the group wants stricter age checks, tighter access controls, and more scrutiny of payment flows tied to gambling.

1. SESPAS discussed its proposals in a meeting with representatives of its Working Group and Spain’s Directorate General for the Regulation of Gambling (DGOJ). The discussion covered protection of minors and vulnerable groups, identification and access controls, advertising, promotions, payment methods, and the link between sport and betting.
2. One of the clearest proposals is to raise the legal minimum age for betting from 18 to 21. SESPAS also wants stronger age and identity verification systems, plus effective mechanisms to block access for people listed in the Registro General de Interdicciones de Acceso al Juego (General Register of Prohibited Access to Gambling).
3. The organisation also wants those verification systems to be interoperable with platforms and payment methods. For payment providers, that is the part to watch: this is not just about KYC at onboarding, but about how gambling eligibility checks connect to the actual payment stack.
4. SESPAS backed its position with 2024 data from the EDADES and ESTUDES surveys. Its Working Group said 1.4% of the population aged 15 to 64 shows possible problematic gambling, while among students aged 14 to 18 the figure reaches 4.9%.
5. On commercial practices, SESPAS wants tighter consumer protection against offers that can encourage intensive or problematic play, including welcome bonuses, free bets, first-deposit incentives, and some loyalty schemes, as well as promotions linked to gambling frequency or volume. It also wants advertising rules updated for social media, streaming and video platforms, online video games, and influencer content.

SESPAS also wants to reduce the association between sport and betting by banning betting terminals in sports facilities, setting minimum distances between betting shops and sports venues, and limiting promotions that directly tie the two together. It also questions the term “responsible gambling,” which is a reminder that the regulatory conversation in Spain is moving toward prevention, access control, and marketing restraint rather than polished messaging.