Spain Cracks Down on Online Gambling: €140 Million in Fines Issued in 2024
The Spanish Ministry of Social Rights and Consumer Affairs has levied over €140 million in fines in 2024 against 41 online gambling operators for serious and very serious administrative infractions. Data reveals that €77.4 million of these fines were issued in the second half of the year alone.
Foreign Operators Face Heavy Penalties
The majority of the penalties, specifically 14 out of 26 issued by the Directorate General for Gambling Regulation (DGOJ), were for very serious offenses. These involved foreign online gambling operators functioning without a valid license in Spain. These unlicensed operators account for the bulk of the fines, totaling €75 million.
Consistent Penalties for Unlicensed Operation
Each unlicensed operator was fined €5 million, with one exception receiving a €10 million penalty, according to ministry sources. In addition to the financial penalty, these operators face a two-year ban, as stipulated by the Gambling Regulation Law (LRJ).
Companies such as Wot NV, Magicwin games tech LTD, Winbet NV, and others are among those penalized for operating without proper authorization.
Licensed Operators Fined for Advertising Infractions
The DGOJ also issued serious infraction penalties to 12 licensed online gambling operators in the latter half of 2024. These “serious” infractions relate to unauthorized advertising practices.
Companies including Millonapp SL, Casumo Spain PLC, and 888 online games España SA were among those sanctioned for advertising violations. The total amount of these 12 fines reached €2.4 million.
Transparency and Historical Data
Following a recent amendment to the Gambling Regulation Law, the ministry now publishes administrative resolutions for serious and very serious infractions on the DGOJ website. Since July 2021, 180 sanctions have been published, amounting to over €475 million in penalties.
Key Years for Sanctions
- 2022: 73 sanctions totaling €120 million.
- 2023: 47 operators fined, with total sanctions exceeding €152 million.
This crackdown underscores Spain’s commitment to regulating the online gambling sector and ensuring compliance with established laws and regulations.
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