Spain bans 14 gambling sites and fines operators €77 million

Spain has issued more than €77 million in fines to online operators in the second half of 2024, as part of a sweeping crackdown on illegal gambling and regulatory breaches.

The Dirección General de Ordenación del Juego (DGOJ), part of Spain’s Ministry of Social Rights, Consumer Affairs and Agenda 2030, confirmed the sanctions were finalised by the end of last year and reflect its growing push to protect players and clean up the gambling industry.

Illegal gambling operators hit hard by Spain’s bans and fines

14 unlicensed foreign companies were found to be offering illegal gambling services in Spain. Thirteen of these operators were fined €5 million each, while one company – penalised for repeat violations – was hit with a €10 million fine.

All 14 cases were deemed “very serious” under Article 39(a) of Spain’s Gambling Regulation Act (LRJ). As well as financial penalties, the DGOJ ordered the closure of the offending websites and imposed a two-year ban preventing them from re-entering the Spanish market.

According to igamingexpress, the blacklisted companies include:

• Wot NV
• Magicwin Games Tech LTD
• Winbet NV
• Spicyjackpots Games Tech LTS
• Lama Tech Limitada
• Chestoption Sociedad de Responsabilidad Limitada
• Pennytech Holding BV
• Group Gaem BV
• Mibs NV
• FGS Software Solutions S.R.L
• Investan NV
• Tinietech Holding B.V
• Adonio N.V.
• Techsolutions Group N.V.

According to Esports Insider, these closures are part of a wider enforcement strategy involving the ‘Policía del juego’, financial institutions, and regional regulators. The goal is to combat money laundering, fraud, and unregulated gambling, especially as new technologies like blockchain betting emerge.

Licensed gambling companies also face penalties in Spain

It wasn’t just the black-market platforms that were sanctioned. The DGOJ also fined 11 licensed operators for “serious” breaches of Spain’s gambling regulations, totalling €2.3 million.

Those sanctioned include:

• Millonapp SL
• Bingosoft PLC
• Wagerfair SA
• Media 24
• Juegos de Azar y Servicios SL
• Conespa Solutions
• TSG Interactive PLC
• WHG Spain PLC
• Fpoocl SA
• 888 Online Games España SA

More information on these penalties can be found via the official DGOJ statement.

Spain’s new approach to gambling regulations

Spain has become a regulatory model for other EU nations. In November 2024 alone, the country issued over €65 million in fines, mostly targeting foreign companies operating illegally, according to Esports Insider.

Alongside enforcement, Spain is tightening consumer protection laws:

• Operators must monitor player behaviour for signs of risky gambling
• Credit card limits and promotions targeting vulnerable users are being restricted
• Assistance hotlines and monthly activity reporting are now mandatory

Spain’s zero-tolerance stance on illegal gambling is helping to reshape the future of online betting across Europe.

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