The Minister of Consumption, Alberto Garzón, presents on Friday the decree law of the ministry to regulate the game, a package of 100 measures that will affect 99% of the operators of the sector (including Eleven), to radios, televisions and media and that "will change the publicity of the game as we know it today." The idea is to enter into force in summer.

From the ministry they emphasize that it is "a milestone" because "it is the first time that the publicity of the game is regulated in Spain". The decree has a series of measures that affect the content of the ads and there are also time limitations and the idea is to regulate the publicity of the game as it was years ago with that of tobacco.

In press and web

Specifically, with respect to the regulation of the contents, celebrities may not be used in these advertisements and their contents will always have to be neutral, that is, they cannot appeal to the game as a success factor or promote compulsive gambling calling to bet. Nor can loyalty bonds be announced.

These content restrictions will be applied in all advertising of the game, regardless of support, medium and schedule. Then the law specifies the cases depending on the environment. In the written press and web pages, for example, the game may be publicized as long as the aforementioned requirements are met. Advertising, therefore, will be limited to a brief ad of the specific brand or bookmaker.

Of course, on the websites aimed at minors will be strictly prohibited. On the websites, in addition, "intrusive" advertising banners will be banned, those that jump as soon as the website is opened and there will be parental control on them.

In the games

On television (this was announced weeks ago) advertising of the online game is restricted from one to five in the morning. Outside these hours these ads are prohibited. The same content guidelines will apply on radio.

As for sports broadcasts, there may only be publicity of the game (including billboards) in games that start from eight in the afternoon until five in the morning. If a match starts at seven, for example, you cannot advertise bookmakers or similar.

As in the press, these announcements will have to comply with the content restrictions of the decree (no bonuses can be announced, nor can the game be associated with success or with the solution of personal problems, or appeal to "play now").

As for sports sponsorship, athletes may wear these brands on their shirts, but not on those of minors, that is, on t-shirts that are sold in small sizes will be prohibited . Ads will also be banned in entertainment venues where minors enter, specifically in cinemas.

Social networks

The idea is "to protect the child, but not to put a curtain , that's why the law allows the publicity of the brand, there is a sufficient margin of protection." Therefore, they justify in the ministry, the prohibitions and restrictions are different for some media and others, because "the advertising dynamic is different in some environments and others and affects the minor differently."

That is why on the street fences you can not advertise the bookmakers (unless the autonomous communities allow it) "because children have more access" than if it is inside a stadium.

The law includes Eleven and State Lotteries and will affect ads such as the Christmas lottery, "whose content will have to be different." You can no longer appeal to participation as a way to get money or success.

Special mention have social networks. They will have to have surveillance mechanisms to prevent minors from publicizing the game, that this advertising does not reach them and so that the so-called influencers do not. In the event that someone with thousands of followers violates the law, the case will be studied "based on their followers and their impact on their public."

The penalties range from 100,000 euros to one million euros, although if there is recidivism it can reach 50 million euros. These sanctions are reflected in the law of the game passed in 2011 and which is now developed in this decree.

According to the criteria of The Trust Project

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  • Alberto Garzón
  • Spain
  • LOC

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