TITLE: Spain's Gambling Authority Publishes Recent Regulatory Actions and Strategic Initiatives
BODY:
The Dirección General de Ordenación del Juego (DGOJ), Spain's gambling regulator, has published a series of recent developments across enforcement, player protection, and international engagement.
On April 29, 2026, the Ministry of Consumer Affairs sanctioned Make Money Now S.A., the company behind the content creators known as 'Zona Gemelos', with a €10,000 fine for promoting an unlicensed gambling operator in Spain. In March 2026, the DGOJ presented its new Safe Gambling Programme 2026-2030 during a full meeting of the Safe Gambling Advisory Council, addressing key lines of action in player protection and prevention of risky gambling behaviour. On March 6, 2026, the DGOJ released an analysis on the profile of female players in Spain's online gambling sector to examine how gender impacts the sector. The Ministry of Consumer Affairs activated the PACS protocol for the third consecutive year on April 7, 2026, to manage identity fraud cases in online gambling during the tax return campaign. More than 8,600 people reported identity fraud in 2025, representing a 12 percent increase compared to 2024.
The DGOJ has strengthened its international presence and enforcement efforts. At the International Gaming Expo 2026 in Rome on April 15, the DGOJ's director general participated in an international panel on responsible gambling and European regulation. The DGOJ also participated in ICE Barcelona 2026 in January 2026, where it outlined its 2026 regulatory priorities, including the Joint Deposit Limits System and a risk-detection mechanism for problem gambling. Additionally, on December 5, 2025, the DGOJ reinforced its commitment against illegal gambling through collaboration with the .es Domain Registry Commission to improve detection and prevention of unauthorised gambling activities.