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Spain’s Directorate General for the Regulation of Gambling (DGOJ) has announced sanctions against 14 unlicensed online casino and sports betting operators in the country, handing out €77.4m in fines to the companies.
In a statement released earlier this week, the DGOJ named the following operators as those who would receive the penalty: Wot NV, Magicwin games tech LTD, Winbet NV, Spicyjactpos games tech LTS, Lama tech limited, Chestoption limited liability company, Pennytech holding BV, Group gaem BV, Mibs NV, Fgs software solutions SRL, Investan NV, Tinietech holding BV, Adonio NV, and Techsolutions group NV.
According to the DGOJ, 13 of these operators were each fined €5 million for serious violations of Spain’s gambling laws related to operating without a license. One operator, not named in the announcement, faced a larger penalty of €10 million. All of these firms have been shut down and are now banned from the Spanish gambling market for at least two years.
In its press release, the DGOJ emphasized its commitment to consumer protection and adherence to legal standards in gambling. They stated, “These sanctions reflect the DGOJ’s commitment to consumer protection and strict compliance with the legal framework for gambling in Spain, especially against unauthorized operators who jeopardize the safety of players.”
Spain’s Online GGR continues to Grow
This enforcement action comes on the heels of a report showing a 17.6% year-on-year growth in Spain’s online gross gaming revenue, reaching €1.45 billion for the year. The DGOJ’s recent efforts also follow its inaugural gaming sector AML meeting held in February, which gathered various stakeholders to address pressing issues within the industry.
Additionally, the DGOJ participated in discussions with European counterparts at the Gambling Commission Spring Conference in the UK, focusing on critical topics such as identity theft in online gaming.
This will be the regulator’s second major regulatory action in recent months. Last November, it issued €65m in fines for 15 online betting and gaming operators for severe regulatory violations during the first half of the year. The DGOJ has published over 160 sanctions since 2021, representing total fines exceeding €400 million.
Source: GamblingInsider
