Spain orders ‘social shield’ to fast track gambling advertising window

An emergency meeting held by Spain’s Council of Ministers has fast-tracked measures of the government’s approved Royal Decree on advertising.

Yesterday, Spanish ministers approved a raft of temporary ‘social shield’ provisions aimed at protecting citizens during the ongoing COVID-19 crisis, which has ravaged the country’s healthcare networks.

The Spanish government has implemented the strictest lockdown, social distancing and isolation measures for Europe’s second hardest-hit nation, which has reported 95,000 COVID-19 cases and 8,300 related deaths to date.

Sanctioning temporary measures, Spain’s Council will fast-track the Royal Decree’s order enforcing that gambling advertising can only be displayed during a ‘four-hour window’ scheduled from 1-5 am across all Spanish communities.

Spain’s Council had approved all conditions of the Royal Decree last February, voting its measures into federal law.

Nevertheless, the government had promised gambling incumbents that its advertising enforcement would not be implemented until the start of a new football season in August, allowing operators a grace period in which to fulfil existing media contracts.

The temporary measures are expected to be officially sanctioned today, with the publication of the government’s state gazette.

Spain’s Consumer Affairs Ministry, which acts as the governing department for gambling regulatory development, has underlined its support for fast-tracking measures by stating that community organisations had recorded an increase in problem gambling cases since the confinement period began.