The Directorate-General for the Regulation of Gambling (DGOJ), has begun work on a new tool to protect players by identifying risky behaviours. The regulator has published the first draft of its mechanism project and opened it up for public consultation.

The initiative comes as part of the Royal Decree issued on 14 March, which obliges gambling operators to adopt mechanisms and protocols that assist in detecting players at risk of harm. The decree gave the DGOJ two years to design and implement a system operators can use to spot warning signs.

Detecting Patterns of Risk

According to the regulator, the upcoming tool will use different behavioural markers and activity patterns to flag players showing early signs of problem gambling. The intention is to create a standardised framework that applies across all licensed operators in Spain. This ensures that players are categorised consistently regardless of their location.

The draft states that the mechanism will look at factors such as spending patterns, loss of control, frequency of play, and sudden increases in gambling activity. These markers will help operators intervene at the right time with appropriate measures.

Lessons from Other Markets

Spain is not the first country to attempt this type of project. In January, the Dutch regulator Kansspelautoriteit (KSA) released data on risky gambling behaviour. Its study identified five main pillars indicating potential harm: intensity of play, loss of control, escalation of activity, operator conduct, and game design features.

The KSA also observed that average figures offered little insight, since most harmful behaviour did not occur on an “average” day. Instead, sudden spikes and irregular patterns were often stronger indicators. 

A Growing Player Base

The launch of the consultation follows a period of strong growth in Spain’s regulated market. In its 2024 annual report, the DGOJ revealed that active players increased by 21.6%% year-on-year to nearly two million. With more people participating, concerns about responsible gambling and consumer protection have moved higher on the agenda.

The regulator hopes that the new mechanism will make intervention easier while ensuring players are treated equally across platforms. By establishing a centralised approach, Spain will reduce the risk of inconsistent operator responses.

Public Consultation Open

The DGOJ has invited contributions from the public and industry. “Any natural or legal person may make any observations or suggestions they deem appropriate,” the announcement stated. The deadline for submissions is 25 September 2025.

Officials believe input from operators, academics, consumer groups, and the wider public will help create a more robust system. Once completed, the tool will become a key part of Spain’s responsible gambling strategy, complementing existing measures. The regulator has made clear that player protection is a priority, and its new mechanism supports ongoing efforts.