The Superior Court of Justice of Murcia has confirmed a €40,000 ($43,000) fine against a gaming company after a self-excluded individual was allowed to access sports betting machines at a venue in Molina de Segura without any identity verification.
The case dates back to March 24, 2021, when an inspector from the regional gaming authority visited the premises and observed a customer approaching the betting machines without being asked for identification by staff.
When the inspector later requested the player’s documentation, it was confirmed that the individual was registered in Spain’s General Register of Gaming Access Bans (RGIAJ). This national database prevents self-excluded individuals from accessing licensed gambling services.
The operator challenged the sanction on two main grounds. First, it argued that the company should not be held responsible for the actions of a single employee who failed to check identification.
The court rejected that argument, stating that regional gaming law requires operators to implement effective access control systems and supervise staff responsible for enforcing those measures.
The company also argued that the fine was disproportionate, particularly because another entity involved in the same premises had also been sanctioned.
However, the court ruled that the law allows separate penalties to be imposed on different legal entities involved in the same violation.
Murcia’s regulations allow fines of up to €300,000 for serious infractions. The court concluded that the €40,000 sanction was proportionate given that the breach undermined safeguards designed to protect vulnerable players.
The ruling effectively closes the case after several years of appeals and reinforces the strict enforcement framework governing access controls in Spain’s gambling sector.
Spain’s General Register of Gaming Access Bans (RGIAJ) blocks self-excluded individuals from accessing both land-based venues and licensed online platforms nationwide, with exclusions lasting at least six months
