Spain’s Gaming Authority Tackles Identity Theft in Online Gambling

Spain’s General Directorate of Gaming Regulation (DGOJ), under the Ministry of Social Rights, Consumer Affairs, and Agenda 2030, recently convened a meeting to address the growing concerns surrounding identity theft in the online gambling sector. The discussion brought together representatives from the scientific section of the Advisory Council on Responsible Gaming (CAJR) and medical professionals from the Madrid City Council.

The primary focus was on exploring the risks associated with identity theft in online gaming and devising more effective preventative strategies. The DGOJ shared the findings of the Protocol of Action for Supplanted Taxpayers (PACS-2024), a response mechanism designed to assist taxpayers whose identities have been fraudulently used by others to evade taxes on gambling winnings.

Key issues discussed included:

• The dangers of sharing personal data for gambling purposes.
• The problem of identity theft used to allow minors, young adults, and self-excluded individuals to gamble.

Another significant point of discussion was the role of “tipsters,” or betting prognosticators, and the potential risks their activities pose, particularly in normalizing gambling among younger audiences. These tipsters often offer betting predictions and advice for a fee, new followers, or commissions.

The DGOJ emphasized the need for “more effective awareness strategies” to enable scientific and healthcare professionals to better educate the public about the dangers of identity theft and personal data sharing. The organization expressed concern that existing screen time prevention programs often fail to adequately address the specific risks associated with online gambling. They advocated for alternative awareness models that delve deeper into the risks of gambling with greater rigor.

Participants in the meeting included:

• Mikel Arana, Director General of the DGOJ
• Cecilia Pastor, Deputy Director General of Gaming Inspection
• Eugenio Álvarez, Deputy Director General of Gaming Regulation
• Beatriz Mesías Pérez, Head of the Sub-Directorate General of Addictions Madrid Salud
• Francisco Ferre Navarrete, Director of the AdCom clinic
• Ángela Ibáñez Cuadrado, Néstor Szerman, and Juan Francisco Navas Pérez, representing the scientific section of the CAJR

The meeting underscores the DGOJ’s commitment to tackling the complex challenges posed by online gambling and protecting vulnerable individuals from the risks of identity theft and problem gambling.