The Canary Islands Parliament has approved a comprehensive initiative targeting gambling addiction among young people, mandating the regional government to develop prevention strategies within six months while imposing additional restrictions on land-based gaming operations.
The Parlamento de Canarias passed the Non-Legislative Proposition promoted by the Canarian PSOE, requiring the autonomous government to elaborate a Comprehensive Plan for Gambling Addiction Prevention in Young People within a maximum timeframe of six months.
Multi-Sector Prevention Approach
The proposition gained approval after incorporating an amendment with measures spanning education, healthcare, and new restrictions on in-person gambling activity. The approved framework includes implementation of specific programmes in educational centres to promote responsible money use and digital environment usage.
The plan encompasses early detection actions for possible risk behaviours, alongside awareness campaigns directed at young people and families. Healthcare provisions include reinforcement of public health services for early detection and specialised psychological care.
Regional Legislative Context
The Canary Islands operates as an autonomous community with gambling regulatory powers, allowing it to impose regional restrictions beyond national Spanish gaming laws. This parliamentary initiative represents one of the most comprehensive youth-focused gambling prevention frameworks approved by any Spanish autonomous region.
Direct Impact on Gaming Operations
One measure directly affecting the sector involves plans to:
“Strengthen the regulation of autonomous in-person gaming with additional limitations and greater access control”
— Parliamentary text
This restriction targets land-based operations despite the initiative's primary focus on online gambling growth and minors' exposure to betting content on internet platforms and social media.
Digital Platform Collaboration
Additional measures include reinforcement of collaboration with digital platforms to limit minors' exposure to betting content, creation of a permanent monitoring system for the evolution of the gambling phenomenon in Canarias, and strengthening of the autonomous community's participation in state coordination bodies on gambling matters.
During parliamentary debate, government-supporting representatives noted that Canarias already works on new planning for gambling regulation, which has entered its final phase of processing.
Regulatory Signal for Operators
This development represents a significant shift in regional gaming policy, with land-based operators facing potential operational constraints despite the initiative's stated focus on digital exposure risks. The six-month timeline creates immediate compliance preparation requirements, while the permanent monitoring system suggests ongoing regulatory scrutiny. The emphasis on additional access controls and limitations signals stricter enforcement protocols ahead, potentially affecting venue operations and customer verification processes across the archipelago.
