ANESAR Chief Calls for Industry Unity Against Gaming Negativity

ANESAR secretary general Juan Lacarra has delivered a pointed call for Spain's gaming industry to actively counter negative narratives while demanding regulatory reform to prevent business closures across the sector.

Speaking at a recent industry congress, Lacarra positioned the gaming sector's narrative challenge as fundamental to its future viability. His presentation emphasized the need for operators to take control of public discourse rather than allow external critics to dominate the conversation.

Reclaiming the Gaming Narrative

Lacarra framed his argument around what he termed "positive gaming," urging industry stakeholders to present a more balanced perspective of their operations.

“Against negative narratives, we have the responsibility and legitimacy to project another vision that is more real, more complete and also more just”

— Juan Lacarra, Secretary General, ANESAR

Originally in Spanish

Using a cinema analogy, he described the sector as a collective film where companies, administrations, customers and workers must coordinate their roles effectively. He rejected abstract characterizations of the industry, emphasising its human elements.

“The sector consists of companies with names, with human teams behind them, with families and, in many cases, with decades of history”

— Juan Lacarra, Secretary General, ANESAR

Originally in Spanish

Market Pressures and Economic Reality

The ANESAR chief acknowledged challenging market conditions, citing a 5.4% decline in private land-based gaming against the growth of public and online gaming. This "rationalisation" is driving the progressive disappearance of small and medium family enterprises that Lacarra argued provide the most careful stewardship of gaming activities.

To counter misinformation, he presented concrete sector data showing the gaming hall segment supports 19,000 direct jobs with 62% female participation, while generating fiscal contributions exceeding €320 million.

“These taxes are not abstract: they are hospitals, they are schools, they are roads and public services that ultimately benefit society as a whole”

— Juan Lacarra, Secretary General, ANESAR

Originally in Spanish

Regulatory Reform Demands

Lacarra criticised current regulatory approaches that he claimed focus on minorities while overlooking general business operations. He specifically called for gaming halls to be permitted modern payment methods available to other retail businesses.

Spain's gaming sector has faced increasing pressure from regulatory authorities implementing mandatory access controls, highlighting the tension between operational flexibility and compliance requirements that Lacarra referenced in his presentation.

“What we need is normality; to stop putting brakes on issues that are normal in any economic activity and where other operators are gaining advantage over us”

— Juan Lacarra, Secretary General, ANESAR

Originally in Spanish

He expressed particular concern about the loss of direct dialogue with authorities due to electronic processing procedures, noting the difficulty of regulating unfamiliar activities.

“It is very difficult to regulate what you don't know, but it is also very easy to criticise what you don't know”

— Juan Lacarra, Secretary General, ANESAR

Originally in Spanish

Proportional Sanctions Framework

The secretary general delivered sharp criticism of disproportionate sanctioning regimes where isolated errors can prove fatal to business viability.

“When someone doesn't do things well, there must be consequences, but in certain cases proportionality is being lost over isolated incidents or even situations of deception towards the workers themselves”

— Juan Lacarra, Secretary General, ANESAR

Originally in Spanish

He invited regulators to visit gaming premises to understand daily operational challenges firsthand, while defending customers' rights to enjoy leisure activities without stigmatisation and highlighting workers' increasing regulatory pressures.

Strategic Implications for Spanish Gaming

Lacarra's intervention signals growing industry frustration with regulatory approaches that operators view as disconnected from commercial realities. His emphasis on dialogue restoration and proportional enforcement reflects broader European trends where gaming associations seek more collaborative regulatory relationships.

The €320 million tax contribution figure provides ammunition for industry lobbying efforts, while employment data counters negative social impact narratives. However, the 5.4% decline in private land-based gaming highlights structural challenges that regulatory reform alone cannot address. Operators should monitor whether ANESAR's call for narrative control translates into coordinated industry communications strategies, particularly given increasing scrutiny of gaming advertising and social responsibility measures across Spanish jurisdictions.

According to AzarPlus.