The Spanish gaming oversight body, Dirección General de Ordenación del Juego (DGOJ), has levied penalties exceeding €35 million (£31 million/$38.6 million) on twenty online gaming providers in the latter half of 2022 for engaging in illicit gaming practices.
The Ministry of Consumer Affairs reports that twenty operators were contacted over a six-month period for “grave or very serious infractions” in online wagering and gambling, which were linked to violations of the Gambling Law (LRJ).
Of the operators contacted, seven were identified for “very serious” infractions and were prohibited from offering online gaming services in the nation for a two-year period. Each operator was also fined €5 million, resulting in a total of €35 million in the second half of the year.
The DGOJ also discovered “serious” violations by thirteen other operators, leading to penalties totaling €560,000.
Nine of these violations were related to failing to adhere to Spanish gambling advertising and marketing regulations, with each operator fined €10,000 for the breach.
Four other operators were fined between €125,000 and €160,000 for permitting individuals who had voluntarily excluded themselves from gambling to participate online or for failing to meet technical standards.
Following the revision of the LRJ in July 2021, which established criteria for classifying serious and extremely serious violations, 92 operators have faced penalties. Of these sanctions, 73 were implemented in 2022, while 19 were levied in 2021. These breaches have resulted in fines exceeding €181 million.
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