Spanish gambling regulator fines 14 unlicensed operators
The DGOJ has issued fines totalling €77m as part of its action against the unlicensed gambling sector.
Spain.- The General Directorate for the Regulation of Gambling (DGOJ) has imposed fines totaling a combined €77m against 14 online gaming operators that it found to be providing gambling without a licence. The latest batch of fines forms part of the regulator’s ongoing efforts to tackle unlicensed gambling and protect the regulated sector.
The individual penalties ranged from €5m to €10m. Most of the fines were at the lower end of that scale, but one operator was fined the full €10m for what the DGOJ said were “more severe violations.”
The operators fined were: Adonio, Chestoption, FGS Software, Group Game, Investan, Lama Tech, Magicwin Games Tech, Mibs, Pennytech, Spicyjackpots, Techsolutions, Tinietech, Winbet and Wot. They have been prohibited from operating on the Spanish online gambling market for the two years.
A DGOJ spokesperson stressed: “We will not hesitate to take firm action against companies that endanger consumers or operate outside the law,” they stated.
Online gross gambling revenue (GGR) from the regulated Spanish industry reached a record €1.45bn in 2024. That’s a rise of 17.6 per cent year-on-year, outpacing Europe as a whole.
Both online casino gaming and online sports betting saw double-digit increases in revenue. Online casino revenue rose by 17 per cent to €730.7m and online betting revenue rose by 23.8 per cent to €608.9m.
New Spanish gambling reforms
Spain is expected to introduce more measures for the regulated gambling market under the Royal Decree on Safer Gambling Environments of 2023. Proposals include cross-operator deposit limits of €600 a day or €1,500 a week and the introduction of promotional restrictions for under 25 who lose more than €200.
Last month, the DGOJ, along with financial institutions reiterated a warning about a spate of identity theft cases related to online gambling transactions. The regulator said it continues to receive complaints from players who have received fines or tax demands related to accounts they were unaware of or did not control. The DGOJ said criminals were exploiting ID verification protocols on online gambling platforms and payment systems.
Spain’s Ministry of Consumer Affairs says that 7,700 cases of identity theft linked to online gambling and payment-related liabilities were reported last year. Around 5 per cent of gamblers who won over €100 via online gaming are said to have been victims of identity theft. Most cases involved sports betting.
Statistics were available for the first time after the DGOJ introduced a new protocol for impersonated consumers to register complaints. PACS was introduced in April 2024 in collaboration with the tax administration agency AEAT and the State Security Forces and Corps. It provides a step-by-step process for consumers to follow if they believe their identity has been stolen via online gambling platforms.
