Spain has announced a new national funding initiative of nearly €1 million for research into gambling addiction, risky betting behaviour, and the links between video games and gambling. The program reflects increasing concern among policymakers over the social and psychological consequences of online betting and gambling-related disorders.
The initiative, led by Spain’s Ministry of Social Rights, Consumer Affairs and the 2030 Agenda, allocates a maximum of €950,620 for competitive research grants during the 2026 fiscal year. The grants will support studies focused on prevention, early detection, and harm reduction related to gambling disorders.
The announcement comes amid mounting international scrutiny of Spanish online casinos, especially the convergence between online gaming, sports betting, loot-box mechanics, and youth exposure to gambling-style monetisation systems.
Focus on Early Detection and Social Harm
According to the official call for proposals, researchers are urged to investigate six major thematic areas tied to gambling-related harm. Among the priorities are methods for identifying individuals showing early signs of risky gambling behaviour, and the emotional, financial, legal, educational, and social consequences associated with gambling addiction.
The Spanish government is also placing special emphasis on understanding how gambling harms extend beyond the individual gambler. The call specifically references impacts on families, workplaces, academic performance, and broader social relationships.
Another significant component of the funding program concerns the relationship between the video game industry and traditional gambling sectors such as lotteries, poker, betting platforms, and games of chance.
The inclusion of this research line signals growing regulatory concern over gamified betting systems and digital products that blur the distinction between entertainment gaming and gambling behaviour.
Across Europe, regulators have increasingly examined features such as loot boxes, in-game purchases, reward mechanics, and eSports betting for their potential psychological similarities to gambling.
Gender and Gambling Under the Spotlight
One of the more notable aspects of the Spanish funding initiative is its explicit focus on gender. Researchers are invited to examine how gambling-related harms and risky behaviours may differ between men and women, including differences in vulnerability, social impacts, and patterns of addiction.
Public health experts have increasingly argued that gambling addiction policies often overlook gender-specific experiences, despite evidence suggesting differences in behavioural triggers, stigma, and pathways into addiction.
Who Can Apply?
The grants will be open to a wide range of Spanish-based research institutions, including public and private universities, public health institutions linked to the National Health System, independent R&D centres, and non-profit organisations involved in research dissemination.
However, the rules impose strict independence requirements. Non-profit organisations applying for funding must not include gambling operators within their governing bodies.
This condition appears designed to address potential conflicts of interest in gambling research, a topic that has generated controversy internationally, particularly when industry-funded studies have been criticised for minimising gambling-related harms.
Timeline and Application Process
According to the government, eligible projects must begin no earlier than January 1, 2026, and may run until June 30, 2027 at the latest.
Applications will remain open for one month following publication in the Official State Gazette and must be submitted digitally via the Directorate General for Gambling Regulation’s online portal.
It’s worth noting that the measure was formally signed by Social Rights Minister Pablo Bustinduy Amador and Gambling Regulation Director General Mikel Arana Echezarreta.
Broader European Context
Over the last couple of years, Spain has been one of the more active European countries in tightening oversight of gambling advertising and online betting practices. The new research grants are expected to complement broader public health and consumer-protection strategies already underway in the country.
Experts say the initiative may also help generate evidence for future regulation, particularly as governments across Europe grapple with rapidly evolving digital gambling markets and the increasing overlap between gaming, social media engagement, and betting platforms.
By investing directly in independent research, Spanish authorities appear to be positioning gambling addiction not solely as a consumer issue, but as a wider public health and social policy challenge requiring long-term scientific study.
Pushing for Stricter Gambling Advertising
At the same time, Spain has launched a public consultation on new gambling reforms to protect consumers in the fast-growing iGaming sector. It focuses on tighter restrictions for gambling advertising, particularly the use of celebrities and influencers, along with limits on welcome bonuses and gambling content appearing in search engine results.
Regulators argue that the country’s existing gambling laws, introduced roughly 15 years ago, no longer reflect today’s digital gambling environment. The reform has also suggested an early-detection system with real-time player data to identify harmful gambling behaviour sooner, alongside potential tobacco-style warning labels on gambling advertisements.
The consultation follows a 2024 Supreme Court ruling that weakened parts of Spain’s previous advertising restrictions and comes amid rising concern over illegal gambling platforms, which an EY study estimated generated around €231 million in Spain during 2024
