The Spanish Digital Gaming Association (Jdigital) analyzed the second quarter report on the financial situation of online gaming in the country, published by the General Directorate of Gaming Regulation (DGOJ), and stated that its results “show the negative period that the industry is going through.”
Jdigital’s CEO, Jorge Hinojosa, said in a statement that “the latest results made public by the DGOJ are devastating.” “The online gaming ecosystem in our country is losing appeal for operators due to the tougher restrictions it is experiencing. Companies in the sector feel that they do not have stable guarantees that allow them to grow in our country,” he pointed out.
It should be noted that, according to the Q2 2022 report, Gross Gaming Revenue (GGR) was EUR 203.95 million, about $205.45 million. This amount represents a decrease of -0.29% compared to the previous quarter and a year-over-year decrease of -5.55%.
The report also detailed that the monthly average of active gaming accounts is 996,149, “which implies a decrease of -2.42% compared to the previous quarter and a positive annual variation of 0.3%”. “The monthly average of new accounts is 146,057 users, with a quarterly decrease of -5.45% and -25.99% annual rate,” the association added.
In this regard, Hinojosa stated that “the most worrying thing is that the decrease in the turnover of licensed operators opens the door to the growth of illegal gambling, exposing users to an unregulated and unprotected game.”
Jdigital pointed out that the reported figures emphasize “the feeling of instability and uncertainty that already prevailed in the industry, especially after the approval of the Royal Decree on Commercial Communications of Gambling Activities,” which prohibited the advertising of gambling past the early hours of the morning.
Despite this situation, the association pointed out that, “after a few months marked by a progressive slowdown in the gaming sector and facing a complex outlook for the coming months, the Association emphasizes its commitment to safe and responsible gaming and to promote a sustainable development of the industry.”
Along these lines, Jdigital stressed that “the best ally for the DGOJ is the industry itself.” “We believe that it is more necessary than ever to work together with the regulator to create a solid market that allows operators to grow and protects users, especially the most vulnerable,” he concluded.