【Löwen Play Bingen】-Spanish Gambling Sector Fined Over €65 Million Just for H1 in 2024

Spain’s ministry dishes out more fines to unlicensed and licensed online casino operators for serious infringements of regulations.

Online casinos are required to obtain a license to operate in any regulated online gaming market. Spain's is among the strictest ones online, with a wide range of rules and regulations operators must adhere to.

The region recently demonstrated its seriousness regarding its regulatory requirements and what happens when they are not met. In the first half of 2024 alone, the online gambling sector was fined around €65.4 million.

Heavy fines in Spain

Spain's online gambling regulations might be strict, but it is also home to some of the top EU casinos, including Mr Green, LeoVegas, 888 Casino and PlayOJO. This only means that the bar for quality, diversity, and responsibility to the market and its players is set pretty high.

Here's the proof: in H1 of 2024, the Ministry for Consumer Affairs handed out fines of €65.4 million to platforms that are not complying with the online gambling laws currently in place.

A total of 13 unlicensed online gambling operatorswere flagged for very serious infringements of Spanish gambling laws. These operators include Interactive Pro, Starscream, Loveca Sino, Rougeca Sino, Mountberg, Alimanieri, Goldenpharaoh, Goldenlion, Golden Genie, Bigwins Games Tech, Games & More, Gladiator Holding, and R.Bostock Enterprises. Each has been ordered to pay a steep €5 million fine.

According to the ministry, these sites have not only been fined but also disqualified from operating in the regionfor two years. They can only apply for licensing after the two-year period is complete.

Spain is known for its strict regulation of the industry, implementing its restrictions and shutting down anyone who strays. Since 2018, over 2,600 illegal casinos have been closed down, and the ministry has issued almost €400 million in fines.

Licensed operators under the gun

Aside from the unlicensed operators being fined for illegal operations in the region, there are punishments given to licensed companies. Both Codere and Electraworks were fined. Codere received a €162,500fine after the Directorate-General flagged its Facebook ad for the Regulation of Gambling (DGOJ) as it could potentially appeal to minors.

Since 2020, strict marketing restrictionshave been a major part of Spain's gambling regulations. This includes a ban on sponsorship deals and online ads. The primary focus is to protect minors and vulnerable players.

Electraworks received a €225,000 finefor failing to submit its technical compliance reports by the deadline of 2023. The delays exceeded 1,600 days.

Those strict gambling advertising restrictions were implemented to protect minors, ban sponsorships, and limit ad visibility. While some of these measures were lifted or lightened in 2023, they are still very strict in prohibiting ads that might appeal to minors and vulnerable groups.

Committed to player safety

With its heavy fines and firm ruling of the online gambling industry, Spain shows that it is committed to proper regulationof the gambling sector. All enforcement actions are taken to ensure that all top EU casinos and operators comply with the licensing rules, promote responsible gambling, and steer clear of anything that could be considered exploitation of vulnerable players.

Since 2021, the ministry has published 154 sanctions. It continues to increase transparency and navigate the challenges of money laundering risks and other gambling-related concerns, such as problem gambling.

This means that as the gambling industry continues to grow in popularity, regulatory oversight increases. And it's up to the Spanish ministry to continue ensuring that the gaming sector is safe, fair, and clean.