Spain’s Online Gaming Regulations: A Model for Latin America?
Spain’s approach to regulating online gambling has become a benchmark for countries seeking safer and more efficient systems. This article examines the impact of the Spanish regulatory system for online gaming as it looks towards 2025, recent changes, and why its approach serves as a beacon for Latin American regulations.
The Legal Framework Governing Online Gaming in Spain
The current robust legal framework wasn’t always in place. From the emergence of online casinos in the 1990s until 2011, online gaming existed in a legal gray area, neither explicitly legal nor illegal.
This changed on May 27, 2011, with the approval of Law 13/2011 on Gaming Regulation. This law was a landmark event in the world of online gaming, 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 market evolution, technological advancements, and casino access. Modifications and new projects have been approved, such as Royal Decree 958/2020, which imposed restrictions on promotions and advertising, restrictions that were further modified in 2024.
Law 13/2011 continues to govern online gaming in Spain, subject to updates and complemented by new decrees.
The DGOJ: Ensuring Fair Play
The law aims to regulate the online gaming industry, making it safe for players and suitable for operators, ensuring transparency and integrity.
It introduced measures such as a licensing system for platforms operating in Spain, audits to prevent fraud, and tools to combat gambling addiction.
The General Directorate of Gaming Regulation (DGOJ) enforces the law. This body grants or denies operating licenses, supervises licensed platforms, imposes fines, revokes licenses, and ensures tax compliance.
The DGOJ is a leading gaming regulation institution. Its stringent licensing requirements have deterred some brands from operating in Spain, but they assure players that a DGOJ-licensed platform is trustworthy.
Looking Ahead to 2025: Expectations for the Future
The exponential growth of online casinos and betting houses has raised concerns about their reach to younger users, who are more prone to irresponsible gambling.
By the end of 2025, legal changes are expected to enhance player protection and improve efficiency in areas like tax collection. Here are some expectations:
- Player Protection: Strengthened self-exclusion and limit tools, a register to prevent self-excluded players from accessing sites under different identities, a ban on credit card use in accounts with significant losses, and AI-powered detection of dangerous gaming patterns.
- Bonuses and Advertising: While restrictions on welcome bonuses and online gaming advertising have been in place, recent relaxations are being re-evaluated. The intention is to better control bonuses and implement new player protection measures.
- Tax Collection: Tax authorities will seek to improve tax collection from both players and operators, establishing a fiscal regime to combat money laundering via cryptocurrencies.
Stay ahead of the game in the licensed betting world – get the latest insights at LicensedBettingSites.com.
