Spain's gambling regulator DGOJ has finalized its research grant allocations for 2025, approving funding for 20 projects that conspicuously exclude any examination of public gaming operators despite their substantial market presence.
The final resolution reveals a stark regulatory blind spot, with zero funding directed toward studying the impact of state-controlled lotteries or instant-win scratch cards sold throughout Spanish retail outlets.
Private Sector Focus Dominates Research Agenda
The approved projects demonstrate clear prioritization of private operator analysis over public gaming research. DGOJ allocated €33,250 specifically for machine learning technology to analyze gambling venue geography, alongside funding for "emotional avatars" using mixed reality and biofeedback systems.
Other funded initiatives include the MUSICAZA project examining sound design in online gambling machines and accessibility studies for gaming venues near schools. While these research areas address legitimate regulatory concerns, the complete absence of public sector gambling analysis raises questions about comprehensive oversight.
Notable Exclusions From Research Portfolio
The funding gap becomes particularly apparent when considering major public gaming entities operating under Spanish jurisdiction. SELAE, the state lottery operator, receives no research attention despite its extensive market reach. Similarly, ONCE's nationwide sales network remains unexplored in the approved studies, even as instant-win products proliferate across retail locations.
This selective research approach suggests regulatory scrutiny applies primarily to private operators while public gaming activities operate within what critics describe as an "investigative immunity bubble."
Research Gap Alert
SELAE and ONCE, two major public gaming entities with extensive market reach across Spain, receive zero research attention despite operating nationwide sales networks and generating substantial revenue through state-controlled lotteries and instant-win products.
Implementation Timeline and Next Steps
Successful grant recipients have 10 business days to formally accept their subsidies and commence research activities. The timeline positions these studies to influence 2026 regulatory policies, though their scope limitations may restrict comprehensive market understanding.
Regulatory Blind Spot Implications
The systematic exclusion of public gaming from research funding creates a significant knowledge gap in Spain's gambling oversight framework. While private operators face increasing analytical scrutiny through algorithm studies and behavioral research, state-controlled lottery systems avoid similar examination despite generating substantial revenue and maintaining widespread accessibility.
This disparity potentially undermines evidence-based policymaking by limiting research to only partial market segments, leaving regulators without comprehensive data on public gaming's social and economic impacts across Spanish communities.
According to AzarPlus.
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