Spain’s gambling regulator makes illegal market enforcement a key 2026 priority

Spain, as you may know, has a long history with the culture of chance. In fact, records show that the country began gambling as early as the 13th century. Over time, this activity has continued to grow in popularity and now attracts national attention. According to Yahoo Finance, Spain’s gambling market has already surpassed $9.05 billion and is projected to reach $39.82 billion by 2033. That’s more than four times the growth in less than a decade!

But as the industry expands, it continues to face a serious challenge: the growing presence of unlicensed operators quietly siphoning away both players and revenues. Well, at first glance, Spain’s regulated market looks solid. Licensed platforms offer structured environments where players can interact peacefully and confidently. But beneath this surface lies a parallel ecosystem that operates without oversight, accountability and often without consequences. And according to a recent study by Sigma.World, 23% of Spanish gamblers use illegal sites to engage.

The country’s regulator, Dirección General de Ordenación del Juego (DGOJ), is aware of this trend and is working hard to implement protective measures. In a joint statement with other European states that was released toward the end of 2025, DGOJ highlighted its commitment to preventing the further spread of the illegal segment. And if you want to learn more about the things it’s doing to keep its word, you’ve just come to the right place. But first things first; why is this industry advancing?

The reason for the continued spread of illegal gambling

You perhaps remember the days when online platforms were just emerging. As much as they brought a lot of convenience to the industry, most of them were just simple websites offering a handful of games. And if you wanted to play using your mobile phone, you were often out of luck because the sites weren’t mobile-optimised. But when you look at the industry today, things have really changed.

The rise of mobile-friendly platforms like Toroslots.com has made it possible for players to access gambling services anywhere, anytime. If you want to explore different online casinos under one roof, it’s just a click away. If there are different types of bonuses, these platforms make it all the more accessible. At such a time, providing a 2000-era experience can frustrate players and even drive them away.

JDM Digital agrees, suggesting that six in ten customers won’t return to mobile-unfriendly platforms. And since most gambling now happens on smartphones and tablets, operators must tailor to these devices if they want to remain relevant.

That’s exactly what illegal operators are doing. Using responsive design, these companies now provide seamless experiences even on small-screen devices, ensuring a large percentage of Spain’s mobile-first audience can access their platforms anytime, anywhere.

Beyond mobile-friendliness, illegal sites have mastered the art of providing more engaging experiences. Take bonuses, for example. You’ll often find most of them providing higher-value promotions that licensed platforms can’t match. And, of course, when a player sees a bigger welcome bonus or freer spins, they’ll naturally gravitate to them.

So, what’s Spain’s strategy for 2026?

Of course, 2026 is not the first time Spain has regulated this industry. In 2011, it introduced a Spanish Gambling Act, setting out clear rules for operators, including player protection, anti-money laundering protocols and responsible wagering measures. Over the years, DGOJ has continued to refine the regulations with the aim of making this space safer for its citizens. 

And if you attempt to run a gambling business without proper licensing today, you could face severe penalties, including fines of up to 50 million Euros. Actually, it was just in 2025 when the DGOJ imposed 58 sanctions and about EUR111 million in fines on companies that had breached the applicable provisions.

And just recently, during the ICE Barcelona, the regulator expressed its renewed commitment to cracking down on unlicensed operators. According to Mikel Arana, DGOJ director general, this would be accomplished by prioritising two key areas:

• Protecting the integrity of the country’s regulated market
• Regarding safer participation as a public health policy

Going into the depths of the DGOJ’s plans

During his presentation, Arana mentioned that, “Our regulatory action will continue to focus on safe gambling as a public policy and on safeguarding market integrity by tackling illegal gambling and fraud.” He highlighted the need for having proper preventive systems as they could help prevent harm before it occurs.

And this could imply introducing measures like:

• A joint deposit limits system
• An infrastructure for detecting risky behaviour jointly
• Introducing objective, data-driven warning messages

On market integrity, the director called upon all stakeholders to join hands and support the regulator’s mission. He highlighted the need to collaborate with other law enforcement bodies and international information-sharing as a way to counter transnational illegal activity.

And while the DGOJ has been working hard to fulfill its promise, it has not been without challenges. One is the growing popularity of domains that redirect to unlicensed websites. The other one is the advertisement of unauthorised sites by influencers. Think about it: When someone you’re used to following on social media promotes a flashy casino, it’s easy to trust the platform, even if it’s completely illegal.

These forms of marketing make enforcement more complex because you now have to deal with other layers beyond just shutting down websites, such as addressing digital influence. Nonetheless, these challenges have not been a hindrance to the DGOJ’s commitment. According to the institution, its involvement in the ICE Barcelona 2026 was part of its broader effort to engage in worldwide regulatory dialogue and share best practices, while it looks forward to tackling unauthorised operators more effectively.