Spain Intensifies Fight Against Identity Fraud in Online Betting

The Spanish gambling regulator, DGOJ, is ramping up efforts to combat the fraudulent use of identities in online betting platforms, a problem affecting thousands of users each year. Recent actions include a meeting with cybersecurity and technology experts, alongside public institution representatives, to analyze the scope of identity fraud and develop strategies to protect players.

Inter-Institutional Collaboration to Combat Fraud

The DGOJ is collaborating with the Guardia Civil and the Tax Agency under the PSFI framework. This program aims to identify and address cases involving stolen identities used for illegal activities.

These activities include money laundering through online betting platforms. Preliminary PSFI data presented at the meeting revealed a significant increase in reported cases this past year.

The initiative also involves collaboration with European organizations to share strategies and information, strengthening security in the online gaming sector.

The Scope of Identity Fraud in Online Gaming

According to PSFI data, over 7,500 complaints related to fraudulent identity use in betting platforms were registered in 2024. Sports betting accounts for nearly 90% of these cases.

Men are disproportionately affected, representing 80% of the victims, compared to 20% for women. The fraud also impacts individuals close to the victims, such as family and acquaintances.

In many instances, criminals exploit the identities of minors or individuals excluded from gambling.

These criminals employ sophisticated methods, such as using digital wallets and cryptocurrencies, making it difficult to trace their activities.

Unusual betting patterns in online casinos have also been detected, characterized by high-volume transactions at atypical hours. The average duration of stolen identity use is approximately eight days.

New Measures to Protect Consumers

To address this issue, the DGOJ has implemented several initiatives, including a real-time alert system to detect potential fraud. A dedicated email address has also been created for users to report incidents.

Identity verification protocols at betting platforms have been strengthened, requiring them to be more thorough in validating new customers.

The DGOJ has already sanctioned operators for non-compliance with security regulations. In April of this year, the DGOJ fined 15 betting platforms a total of €80 million, with an additional €12 million fine imposed on a repeat offender.

These measures aim to ensure a safer online gaming environment. The government is also developing stricter regulations to protect minors, including the use of age verification systems.