Spain’s Online Gambling Regulation: A Model for Latin America?
The legality of online gambling varies widely across Spanish-speaking countries. While emerging markets like Chile, Venezuela, and Argentina grapple with developing or non-existent legal frameworks, Spain has established itself as a leader in regulating these platforms. This disparity has made the Spanish model a frequent point of comparison for countries seeking to establish safer and more efficient systems. This article examines the impact of the Spanish system for regulating gambling in 2025, its most recent changes, and why its approach serves as a beacon for Latin American regulations.
The Legal Framework Governing Online Gambling in Spain
It’s important to note that this legal framework wasn’t always in place. From the emergence of the first online casinos in the 1990s until 2011, online gambling existed in a legal gray area, similar to the current situation in Chile and other countries mentioned.
Everything changed on May 27, 2011, with the approval of Law 13/2011 on Gambling Regulation. This law was a landmark event in the world of online gambling, being one of the first of its kind. It forever changed the industry’s operation in Spain and remains the governing norm today.
The law has been updated to reflect the evolving market, technology, and access to casinos. Modifications and new projects have been approved, such as Royal Decree 958/2020, which imposed restrictions on promotions and advertising. These restrictions were further modified in 2024.
Thus, Law 13/2011 continues to govern online gambling in Spain, subject to updates and complemented by new decrees.
The Role of the DGOJ
In essence, the law aims to regulate the online gambling industry, making it safe for players and suitable for operators. It also ensures that these operators are transparent and reputable companies.
To achieve this, the law introduced measures such as a licensing system for platforms operating in Spain, audits to prevent fraud, and tools to combat gambling addiction.
The Dirección General de Ordenación del Juego (DGOJ), or the General Directorate for Gambling Regulation, was created to implement these measures. This agency enforces the law, grants or denies operating licenses, supervises licensed platforms, imposes fines, revokes licenses, and ensures compliance with tax obligations.
The DGOJ is a leading institution in gambling regulation. Its stringent licensing requirements, while deterring some brands from operating in Spain, assure players that a DGOJ-licensed platform is trustworthy.
Expectations for 2025
The exponential growth of online casinos and betting houses in recent years has raised concerns about their reach to younger users, who are more susceptible to irresponsible gambling.
It is expected that by the end of 2025, the legal landscape will undergo changes to enhance player protection and improve efficiency in areas such as tax collection. Here are some expectations:
- Player Protection: Enhanced self-exclusion and limit tools, a registry to prevent self-excluded players from accessing sites with different identities, a ban on credit card use for accounts with significant losses, and AI-powered detection of dangerous gambling patterns are anticipated.
- Bonuses and Advertising: While restrictions on welcome bonuses and online gambling advertising have been in place, there has been a recent trend towards greater freedom in this area. The intention is to better control bonuses and implement new measures to protect players.
- Tax Collection: The Treasury aims to improve tax collection from both players and operators, as well as establish a tax regime that combats money laundering through cryptocurrencies.
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