Spain’s gambling regulator imposed €142.7 million in fines on online betting and gaming operators in 2024. The Directorate General for the Regulation of Gambling (DGOJ), under the Ministry of Social Rights, Consumer Affairs, and Agenda 2030, was the driving force behind the penalties for both unauthorised foreign operators and licensed companies that failed to comply with national laws.
Crackdown on Unlicensed Foreign Platforms
Most of the fines were handed out to offshore operators that offered gambling services to Spanish players without a licence. These are considered “very serious” breaches of the Gambling Regulation Law (LRJ). In the first half of 2024, 13 international operators were fined €5 million each. Two licensed operators were fined €325,000 for minor breaches. In the second half of the year, 14 more unlicensed foreign operators were fined. One repeat offender was hit with a €10 million fine, the others were fined €5 million each. They were also banned from operating in Spain for two years and their websites were shut down.
Licensed Operators Face Scrutiny Too
Spain’s gambling authorities also went after licensed operators, no matter what. Fourteen operators with Spanish or international licenses were fined for “serious” breaches including advertising rules, responsible gambling protocols and other regulatory failures. The total fines were €2.7 million.
Stronger Oversight and Transparency
Since the Spanish gambling regulations were reformed in 2021 the Ministry has been more transparent and publishes the outcomes of the enforcement actions. As of 2024 a total of 180 sanctions have been published since mid-2021 and the total amount of fines is €475 million. Meanwhile the Spanish gambling industry is still strong with a GGR of €7.4 billion in 2023.
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