Spain hosts its first International Gaming Congress: the social impact of play takes centre stage
Spain’s Directorate-General for the Regulation of Gambling (DGOJ), operating under the Ministry of Social Rights, Consumer Affairs and the 2030 Agenda, is launching an unprecedented initiative: the First International Gaming Congress, to be held at the Fábrica Nacional de Moneda y Timbre in Madrid, under the theme “The social impact of gaming.”
The event aims to create a space where operators, regulators, researchers and international stakeholders can exchange insights on the role of gaming within society, its potential risks and challenges, and the ways to mitigate its negative effects – at a time when the digital gaming market continues to grow rapidly.
A congress with a dual focus: technical and social
The congress will open with an inaugural address by Pablo Bustinduy, Minister for Social Rights, Consumer Affairs and the 2030 Agenda, who describes the event as a pivotal moment to combine regulatory responsibility with scientific evidence. The programme will feature keynote sessions, panel discussions and debates, bringing together leading national and international figures in the gaming industry.
Among the central topics will be regulatory challenges – particularly in relation to emerging digital technologies – the protection of participants’ rights, evolving models of risk assessment and, above all, the measurement and mitigation of gaming-related social impacts.
A key feature of the event will be the presentation of research projects funded by the DGOJ. Academic and scientific teams will showcase their findings through posters and interactive exhibits, promoting direct engagement with professionals and attendees. In this way, the congress aims not only to serve as an institutional showcase but also as a hub where theory, policy and practice intersect.
Context and regulatory responsibility
The DGOJ is Spain’s national authority responsible for licensing, supervising and, when necessary, sanctioning gambling activities. The congress represents both a moment of visibility and a test of the DGOJ’s technical and social legitimacy. Spain’s online gambling landscape has experienced notable shifts: after advertising restrictions were introduced in late 2021, marketing expenditure rebounded in 2024, reaching €203 million, levels close to those seen before the decree took effect. At the same time, the government has announced new rules requiring betting websites to display warnings about the risks of gambling, similar to those appearing on tobacco products, as part of the next phase of Royal Decree 958/2020.
These developments illustrate a broader political trend: Spanish regulation is increasingly addressing the social dimension of gaming, not just its technical oversight.
An international forum on the rise
This congress marks a milestone for Spain but fits into a wider European context of research and dialogue on gaming. Other international conferences have already explored similar issues, such as the CIVIS forum on video games and social impact, which brings together media professionals, non-profit organisations and cultural institutions to examine how gaming influences education, health and culture.
Spanish academia, too, is broadening its scope: the University of Cádiz recently hosted the Congreso Internacional Lúdica, analysing play as a cultural, educational and social phenomenon.
Against this backdrop, the DGOJ’s initiative assumes broader significance: it is not merely an institutional event, but a platform positioning Spain at the forefront of global discussions on gaming and social responsibility..
Challenges ahead and sector outlook
The congress arrives at a time when digital gaming continues to expand, raising new questions about addiction, consumer protection and social inequality. Participants will have to grapple with complex issues: how to balance entrepreneurial freedom with social safeguards? To what extent can regulation prevent harm without stifling innovation? And how can scientific evidence effectively guide public policy?
The outcomes of this congress could shape Spain’s – and possibly Europe’s – future regulatory strategies for gaming and social protection. Much will depend on stakeholder engagement, the quality of the research presented, and the political will to translate recommendations into concrete legal and policy measures.
Save the date
The Madrid congress on 13-14 November represents a turning point for Spain’s gaming sector: for the first time, gambling will be discussed not merely as an economic or technological matter, but as a social one. The DGOJ, the Ministry and the scientific community will face the challenge of aligning knowledge, values and effective action around the theme of responsible gaming. The underlying message is clear – gaming is not just entertainment: it is a social and political phenomenon whose implications demand collective awareness and accountability.
This article was first published in Italian on 16 October 2025.
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