Spain Approves Call for Subsidies from Online Gambling Industry

The Spanish government has approved the call for subsidies to be levied against the online gambling industry. The Consumer Ministry made the announcement referring to an extract from the Order of April 13th, 2023. It approves the call for subsidies, during the financial year 2023, for the development of research activities related to the prevention of gambling disorders with the effects derived from said disorders or risks associated with this activity.

 Where Will The Funding Flow?

Several entities may qualify as beneficiaries for subsidies, provided their tax residence is in Spain or they have a permanent establishment in Spanish territory. Such entities include the following:

1. Public Research Centres: Public universities, their institutes, and affiliated centres. Public health entities or institutions linked with the National Health System. Other public Research Development and Innovation (R+D+I) centres.
2. Private Research Centres: Private universities with demonstrated R+D+I capacity and activity. Private R+D+I Centres. Private health institutions linked with the National Health System which develop R+D+I activities.
3. Non-profit entities: Provided they meet the following criteria - They must carry out research activities and widely diffuse the results thereof. They must collaborate with private or public entities mentioned previously. The entity must not have gaming operators as part of its governing bodies.

What Will The Fund Aim to Achieve?

These subsidies levied from the online gambling industry are to be used to fund projects in the following lines of research:

1. Early detection of participants with risky or more serious gambling behaviour.
2. Individual, family, or social damage associated with gaming activities in the following settings: personal health, emotional or psychological impact, financial difficulties, affectation of employment or academic training, difficulties in social relationships or legal issues.
3. Mechanisms, instruments or processes to minimise the negative consequences of gambling activities.
4. The relationship between the video games sector and the gaming sector (games of chance, lotteries, poker and/or betting).
5. Structural characteristics of games of chance, poker, lotteries and/or betting.
6. The impact of gender on risky or more serious gambling behaviour.

The maximum allocated finance for these projects is €1,680,000, and the starting date of the project is January 1st, 2023. If necessary, it can only be extended to June 30th, 2024.

The deadline for submitting applications is one month from the day following the publication of the extract of the Order of April 13, 2023, in the Official State Gazette.