Spain’s online gambling trade association Jdigital has warned that the Government’s newly approved joint deposit limit system could increase market concentration and create additional compliance burdens for licensed operators.
The Council of Ministers approved a royal decree on 23 June introducing combined online gambling deposit limits of €700 ($797) per day, €1,750 per week and €3,300 over a four-week period.
The limits will apply across all licensed operators with which a player holds an account, replacing Spain’s previous system where deposit caps were applied individually by each operator.
The reform forms part of a broader consumer protection agenda led by the Ministry of Social Rights, Consumer Affairs and Agenda 2030.
According to the Ministry, the objective is to reduce the risk of gambling-related harm among customers who maintain accounts with multiple operators. The DGOJ will oversee a centralised technological platform capable of checking deposits across the regulated market in real time.
Under the previous framework, players could exceed standard deposit thresholds by spreading activity across several licensed operators.
Consumer Affairs Minister Pablo Bustinduy said the new system creates a single global limit tied to the individual rather than each gambling account.
Jdigital, which represents licensed online operators in Spain, questioned both the proportionality and effectiveness of the measure.
The association cited DGOJ data indicating that around 80% of online gamblers use only one operator, arguing that the reform targets a relatively small segment of the market while potentially affecting competition across the sector.
The association also warned that larger operators could benefit disproportionately from a shared deposit cap, as customers may allocate a greater share of their available spending to brands with stronger market positions.
Jdigital further raised concerns about the operational demands of integrating with the DGOJ's centralised monitoring system and called for safeguards to ensure operators are not penalised for failures outside their control.
The debate comes as Spain continues to tighten oversight of its regulated gambling market. Since 2020, operators have faced a series of restrictions covering advertising, customer protections and responsible gambling requirements.
Industry groups have increasingly argued that additional limitations could encourage some consumers to seek unlicensed alternatives.
Jdigital pointed to an EY study commissioned by the association which estimated that almost one in four Spanish online gamblers had used unlicensed platforms. The group argued that further restrictions on regulated operators should be accompanied by stronger measures against illegal gambling activity.
Earlier this month, Global Gaming Insider reported that Spain's online gambling market generated €454.2m in gross gaming revenue during Q1 2026, representing year-on-year growth of 13.9%. Online casino remained the largest vertical, accounting for €247.8m of total revenue.
The new limits can be increased or removed by players through a formal process that includes additional information about gambling-related risks
