Spain’s PM Sánchez Calls for Snap Election, Leaves Gambling Reforms in Limbo

Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has called for a snap election, bringing it forward to November 29 from next year, as Spaniards are angry at the current housing crisis in the country. However, this bold political move, which experts say is aimed at transferring that anger towards Sánchez’s political opponents, leaves multiple ongoing gambling reforms in a state of limbo. Sánchez’s Snap Election to Put Some Gambling Reforms on Hold Earlier this year, Spain’s Ministry of Social Rights, Consumer Affairs and Agenda 2030 launched a consultation on proposed reforms to the country’s Gambling Act, Law 13/2011. The proposals included stricter controls on gambling advertising featuring celebrities and influencers, tighter restrictions on customer acquisition promotions, limits on gambling advertisements in search engines, and expanded risk warnings. The Directorate General for the Regulation of Gambling (DGOJ) subsequently held discussions with industry stakeholders over the summer. However, no legislation had been presented to parliament before Sánchez called a snap election. According to Cristina Romero de Alba, a partner at gambling law firm Loyra Abogados, the election represented “a significant pause, and potentially a change of direction” for the proposed reforms to Spain’s Gambling Act. Other Gambling Reforms Will Remain While the broader Gambling Act reform faces delays, measures that have already been approved will remain in place regardless of the election outcome, according to Romero de Alba. These include Royal Decree 520/2026, approved in June, which introduces cross-operator deposit limits. The default limits are set at EUR 700 (about $800) per day, EUR 1,750 (around $2,000) per week, and EUR 3,300 (roughly $3,800) over four weeks. The new system is scheduled to come into effect in March, 2027. However, while these measures won’t be affected by Sánchez‘s snap elections, they still face other hurdles. Spanish online gambling trade association Jdigital has said it will challenge the Royal Decree before the Supreme Court, arguing that the measures require legislative approval. In April 2024, the association successfully advanced a similar argument when the Supreme Court struck down several provisions contained in a separate Royal Decree. But back to the snap election, Romero de Alba argues that gambling itself likely won’t have much of an effect on voters’ opinions. She explained that gambling regulation could form part of broader debates around consumer protection, public health and the digital economy, but there is little indication that it will emerge as a major point of electoral division. Instead, the campaign is expected to revolve heavily around Spain’s housing crisis. In other news from Europe, the UK’s Gambling Commission has demanded more effort from National Lottery operator Allwyn UK to generate more money for charitable causes.