In 2024, Spanish authorities levied over 142 million euros in penalties against gambling companies.

Breaking Down the Crackdown on Gambling Operators in Spain

In the year of 2024, Spain's gambling regulator, the Directorate General for the Regulation of Gambling (DGOJ), dished out a whopping €142.7 million in fines to both unlicensed foreign operators and Spanish-licensed companies that flouted local gambling regulations.

Foreign Operators Behaving Badly

The lion's share of the fines were slapped on international operators caught breaking the law by operating in Spain without a valid license – an offense considered a "very serious" violation under Spanish Gaming Regulation Act (LRJ). In the first half of 2024, 13 foreign operators were hit with a €5 million fine each, totaling €65 million in fines. That's right, you read it correctly – 13 illegal operators, each forking over a cool €5 million!

Two repeat offenders were also fined a total of €325,000 for less serious infractions. Come the second half of the year, another 14 foreign operators were sanctioned, with one repeating offender copping a €10 million fine, while the rest were hit with €5 million fines each. These companies were promptly banned from operating in Spain for two years and had their websites taken down.

Notable penalized companies included industry titans such as Interactive Pro, Stars Cream, and Goldenpharaoh.

Licensed Players Aren't Off the Hook, Either

It wasn't just unlicensed operators that felt the heat. Legally licensed companies, whether Spanish or foreign, also faced fines. In total, 14 licensed operators were penalized in 2024 for serious infringements, racking up fines totaling €2.7 million.

Among the infractions were breaches of advertising norms, failures to implement responsible gambling protocols, and non-compliance with other regulatory requirements under Spanish legislation.

Lighting Up the Scoreboard with Transparency

Ever since a major overhaul to the Spanish Gaming Act in 2021, the Ministry has been shining a light on sanctionsresolutions, revealing the names of the involved companies as part of a greater transparency push. The cumulative number of published sanctions since mid-2021 now stands at 180, totaling over €475 million in fines applied in just three and a half years.

In 2023, the gaming sector generated an impressive €7.4 billion in gross gaming revenue (GGR) in Spain.

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Bonus Bits

Curiosity Corner: In 2024, Spain's gambling regulator cracked down on over 30 unlicensed operators, including some well-known names in the industry such as Interactive Pro, Stars Cream, and Goldenpharaoh.
Quick Trivia: The Spanish gambling industry generated a staggering €7.4 billion in gross gaming revenue (GGR) in 2023.

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The Spanish Gaming Regulation Act (LRJ) deems operating without a valid license as a "very serious" violation, resulting in fines for unlicensed foreign operators.
In 2024, the Directorate General for the Regulation of Gambling (DGOJ) fined 13 international operators €5 million each, totaling €65 million.
Two foreign operators were fined €325,000 for less serious infractions in the first half of 2024.
In the second half of 2024, another 14 foreign operators were sanctioned, with one repeating offender fined €10 million, while the rest were fined €5 million each.
Companies like Interactive Pro, Stars Cream, and Goldenpharaoh were among those penalized for operating without a license in Spain.
Legally licensed companies also received fines for infractions such as breaches of advertising norms, failures to implement responsible gambling protocols, and non-compliance with other regulatory requirements.
Over three and a half years, the Directorate General for the Regulation of Gambling (DGOJ) has published 180 sanctions resolutions, totaling over €475 million in fines.
The gaming sector in Spain generated €7.4 billion in gross gaming revenue (GGR) in 2023.
Attend SiGMA Asia from June 1st to 4th, 2025, to be part of the iGaming industry with over 350 thought leaders, 3,800 operators, and 20,000 industry players.
Stay informed about general news, including the Thai Senate's call for clarification from the prime minister regarding an entertainment complex project, and the unexpected election of Pope Leo XIV with mere 2% odds. Additionally, follow the crackdown on gambling operators, gambling trends, casino personalities, policy and legislation, crime and justice, responsible gambling, and personal finance in the casino and gambling industry.