Published May 1, 2023 by OCR Editor
The Spanish regulator, DGOJ, has imposed fines of over €35.0m against 20 online gambling operators for, as he defined, “illegal activities.” As a result, seven operators were banned from offering online gambling for at least two years, while the other 13 received financial penalties. The DGOJ continues to enforce regulations to protect players and promote responsible gambling in Spain.
Spanish regulator Dirección General de Ordenación del Juego (DGOJ) has issued sanctions against 20 online gambling operators for illegal gambling activities during the second half of 2022, imposing over €35.0m in fines in the process.
The DGOJ detected “serious or very serious infractions” across online betting and gambling during the six months concerning Regulación del Juego (LRJ) gambling law breaches.
Seven of the 20 operators contacted were flagged for “very serious” infractions and banned from offering online gambling in the country for two years. Each operator was also fined €5.0m, with these penalties totaling €35.0m in H2.
The DGOJ also detected “serious” violations across the other 13 operators, issuing financial penalties of €560,000. Nine of these violations were related to a failure to comply with rules on advertising and marketing gambling in Spain, with each operator fined €10,000 due to the breach.
The remaining four operators received penalties ranging between €125,000 and €160,000 for allowing people who had self-excluded from gambling to play online or for failing to comply with technical requirements.
The updated LRJ was introduced in July 2021 to establish the levels of serious and very serious violations. Since then, sanctions have been filed against 92 operators, with 73 of these occurring in 2022 and 19 in 2021. In addition, more than €181.0m in fines were also issued due to the breaches.
According to the Ministry of consumer affairs, Spain’s gaming industry generated an increase in revenue in 2021. However, the DGOJ is committed to enforcing regulations and ensuring that all operators comply with the law to protect players and promote responsible gambling.
This latest round of sanctions reinforces the message that the DGOJ will not tolerate any illegal gambling activities and that any breaches of the law will be met with significant financial penalties. The DGOJ encourages all online gambling operators to review their compliance procedures and ensure they fully comply with the LRJ to avoid potential sanctions.
Overall, the DGOJ’s ongoing efforts to regulate the Spanish gambling market contribute to a safer and more responsible gambling environment for all players.