Spain Funds Gambling Harm Research with €1.05m Grant Scheme for 2025
Spain’s gambling regulator has opened a new funding round for research into gambling-related disorders, making €1.05 million available to projects targeting the prevention and understanding of gambling harm.
Public and Private Institutions Eligible for Funding
The Directorate General for the Regulation of Gambling (DGOJ) formally launched the 2025 grant scheme with a notice published in Spain’s Official State Gazette on 17 May. Applications are now being accepted from public and private research institutions based in Spain, as well as from non-profit organisations operating under recognised cooperation agreements.
Submissions will be accepted until 18 June 2025, with all approved research to be completed by 30 June 2026.
Research Areas
The call outlines six priority areas for proposals, reflecting an expanded scope of interest in gambling-related harms. Among them is the early identification of problem gambling behaviours and the analysis of social and psychological impacts. The DGOJ is also seeking research into the specific effects of gambling on different genders, as well as studies on the convergence between gambling and gaming, particularly in the context of younger users.
Another focal point is the structural design of gambling products, with the regulator encouraging projects that explore how product features in betting, poker or lotteries may influence player behaviour.
Legal Basis and Policy Context
The grant scheme operates under Spain’s Regulatory Order CSM/472/2022 and is part of a broader strategy coordinated by the Ministry of Social Rights, Consumer Affairs and Agenda 2030. It aims to integrate gambling policy more closely with national social and public health objectives.
The funding call follows a period of heightened regulatory enforcement. Earlier this month, the DGOJ imposed €77.4 million in fines on 14 unlicensed gambling operators, including a €10 million penalty and multiple €5 million sanctions. Each operator was banned from the Spanish market for two years. The regulator described these actions as part of its commitment to “consumer protection and legal compliance.”
International Engagement and Sector Coordination
Spain has also intensified its international and cross-sector engagement. The DGOJ recently took part in regulatory exchanges hosted by the UK Gambling Commission and earlier this year convened its first national anti-money laundering roundtable with stakeholders from across the Spanish gambling sector.
Full details of the 2025 grant programme, including eligibility requirements and application procedures, are available via the DGOJ’s website and the National Subsidy Database.