The General Directorate for the Regulation of Gambling (DGOJ) has announced that it imposed sanctions totaling more than €140 million (€142,721,000) on online betting and gambling operators in Spain during 2024.
In the second half of the year, fines totaling €77 million were issued to 26 operators. Of these, 14 were foreign operators penalized for operating in Spain without a license. These were classified as very serious offenses under Spain’s Gambling Regulation Law.
The details were announced in a press release on the DGOJ’s website on Tuesday.
In addition to the fines, the companies have been ordered to shut down their websites and are banned from operating in Spain for two years.
Serious offenders named
The following international operators were named and fined for illegal activity:
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Wot NV
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Magicwin Games Tech LTD
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Winbet NV
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Spicyjackpots Games Tech LTS
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Lama Tech Limited
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Chestoption Limited Liability Company
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Pennytech Holding BV
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Group Gaem BV
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Mibs NV
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Fgs Software Solutions SRL
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Investan NV
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Tinietech Holding BV
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Adonio NV
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Techsolutions Group NV
The fines were €5 million for 13 of the companies and €10 million for one repeat offender, Techsolutions Group NV. The majority of the companies hold no valid gambling licenses, but 3 companies hold licenses in Curacao, including Techsolutions.
Offshore sportsbooks with licenses in Curacao are not legally allowed to offer betting to Spanish residents, and have to apply to the DGOJ for a Spanish license. To qualify for a license, operators must have a base within the European Economic Area (EEA).
The regulator collaborates internationally to address challenges posed by offshore operators, particularly those based in jurisdictions like Curaçao and the British Virgin Islands.
Spain’s strict rules on gambling
In addition to the fines issued in 2024, the DGOJ has sanctioned 180 operators with fines of €475 million since 2021. Last year, 12 licensed operators in Spain were also issued penalties, totaling €2.4 million.
The multi-million euro penalties are far heavier than any punishments dished out by US states. States have been clamping down on unlicensed operators, but generally, action is limited to issuing cease-and-desist orders and the occasional small fine.
Michigan is widely recognized as one of the strictest gaming regulators, but when faced with a similar situation recently, the Michigan Gaming and Control Board merely politely asked unlicensed operators to stop.
Spain also has strict rules about gambling advertising. Since reforms in 2021 to gambling rules, celebrities are no longer permitted to endorse gambling companies. Advertisements are also restricted to late night from 1am to 5am on TV and radio. Additionally, bonus offers are only allowed to be shown to registered users rather than broadcast across mass media.
Despite strict rules, the industry continues to thrive. Last year, operators generated revenue of €1.45 billion, marking a 17% increase from 2023. Sports betting makes up the biggest segment of gambling at 42%, followed by casino games at 38%.
Adam is an experienced writer with years of experience in the gambling industry. He has worked as a content writer and editor for five years on sites such as Oddschecker, CoinTelegraph and Gambling Industry News, bringing excellent knowledge of the world of sports betting and online gambling. Adam focuses on emerging stories in the ever changing landscape of betting in the US. Read the latest on prediction markets, changing legislation, and sweepstakes.
