Spain’s Council of Ministers has named Andrés Barragán Urbiola as the country’s new secretary general of consumption and gaming. In this role, he will oversee the reform of gaming laws, a process begun by former Consumer Affairs Minister Alberto Garzon and continued by his successor, Pablo Bustinduy.
According to SBC News, Urbiola has an extensive background in economic policy and financial analysis, and was personally chosen by Bustinduy to fill the new position.
During Garzon’s tenure, Spain began a major overhaul of the laws that govern online and land-based gambling. Among the changes was a ban on betting sponsorships and restrictions on gambling ads. Additional changes include the development of a centralized player registry and risk profiles for vulnerable consumers, especially young people under the age of 25.
Urbiola previously served at the Ministry of Economy, Commerce and Business, where he devised support procedures for companies during the pandemic and also planned Spain’s Transformation and Resilience Recovery Plan.
Under his leadership, Spain hopes to build one of the strictest regulatory markets in European gaming.
