Integration of Spain’s self-exclusion registers moves to next step

This marks the next step in Spain’s plan to bring together its self-exclusion registers, which are currently maintained separately in each of its autonomous communities.

The plan was first agreed in September 2020 at a meeting of the national Gambling Policy Council, chaired by Minister of Consumer Affairs Alberto Garzón.

In addition to the registers’ integration, the Ministry of Consumer Affairs has also outlined two other regulatory projects; the draft royal decree on safer gambling environments, and the regulatory basis for the granting of subsidies in order to carry out research related to the prevention of problem gambling.

Once the proposal for the integration of its self-exclusion databases is approved, the local authorities responsible for gambling will proceed to work on the technological developments and necessary regulatory changes that will allow for the integration to take place.

The process will involve moving player data from locally maintained registers into the General Self-Exclusion Register (RGIAJ), which will be administrated by the nation’s central gambling regulator, the Dirección General de Ordenación del Juego (DGOJ).

In January, Spain’s Ministry for Consumer Affairs set out its priorities for this year, with a focus on improving the strength of consumer protection in the industry.

The integration of the country’s self-exclusion registers was cited as a key priority for 2021.