Spain Fines Online Gambling Operators €33 Million
On November 25, the Spanish gambling regulator (DGOJ) fined 32 operators a total of €33.5 million, while six foreign companies were blocked and received fines of €5 million each.
Sanctions Against Online Gambling Operators
Six foreign operators, operating without a license in Spain, faced the strictest measures. These are XYZ Entertainment, Moonrail Limited, EOD Code SRL, Samaki, Lone Rock Holdings, and Novaforge. Each company was fined €5 million and had its websites blocked.
Fines for Licensed Operators
The remaining 26 licensed operators received fines for various violations, including:
- Electraworks Ceuta — €512,000 for three violations: accepting bets from excluded players, using unauthorized software, and failing to meet technical system requirements
- Beatya Online — €300,000 for not complying with software and communication system standards
- 888 Online — €250,000 for using uncertified systems and breaching technical requirements
- Betfair — €100,000 for failing to follow responsible gaming and player protection rules
- Codere — €17,500 for technical violations
Penalty Enforcement Mechanism
All violations are defined in Article 40 of Law 13/2011 regulating gambling. Penalties are published on the DGOJ website, ensuring transparency for all market participants. Since July 2021, the regulator has published 212 fines totaling €496 million.
Classification of Violations
Penalties are divided into very serious and serious. Very serious violations apply to foreign operators without a license and include website blocking and €5 million fines. Serious violations are imposed on licensed companies for breaching technical standards, software requirements, or responsible gaming rules.
Largest Fines and Examples of Violations
Electraworks Ceuta received the highest fine of €512,000 for three violations, including allowing excluded players access, using unauthorized software, and failing to meet communication system standards. Beatya Online and 888 Online were fined for technical non-compliance. Betfair was fined €100,000 for violating player protection rules, and Codere received €17,500 for technical breaches.
Statistics and Trends
Since the start of the year, including the latest round of fines, DGOJ has imposed 58 sanctions for serious and very serious violations totaling nearly €111 million. These measures aim to ensure operators work fairly and protect players’ interests.
Transparency and Market Oversight
Recent amendments to the Gambling Regulation Law require the mandatory publication of fines for serious and very serious violations. This enhances market transparency and informs players about operators that fail to comply with regulations.