To address the increasing gambling activity in the Balearic Islands, modifications will be made to slot machines, including the addition of warning signs and the removal of certain features that encourage prolonged play. This makes the Balearic Islands the first Spanish region to implement such changes.
The warning signs will display questions about age and awareness of the addictive nature of gambling. Additionally, the machines will be programmed to disable certain features that promote extended use, and when unoccupied, they will display a static image of the warning screen instead of lights and sounds.
The primary objective of the new regulations is to safeguard vulnerable individuals, according to the government. The updated legislation, which is more rigorous in terms of protecting vulnerable individuals than previous regional laws, went into effect on April 8, 2022.
There are currently around 5,000 slot machines in the island group, and authorities are working to implement the changes as soon as feasible, even though the official deadline for machine adaptation under the law is the end of 2024. Whether the warning signs will effectively discourage long-term gambling remains to be seen.
