The Spanish Government has imposed more than €465m in fines on illegal online gambling operators over the past five years.... But admits it has yet to collect any of the actual money.
In a written response to questions from the opposition Popular Party (PP), the Government confirmed that the full amount remains outstanding.
The Government attributes the collection difficulties to the international nature of illegal online gambling. Many operators have no physical presence in Spain, are based in foreign jurisdictions that may not cooperate with Spanish authorities and operate through complex corporate structures that are difficult to trace.
They can also quickly change domains, brands, payment systems and technology providers, making it harder for regulators to identify them and seize assets to enforce the fines.
The Government maintains that its priority is to restrict these operators’ access to the Spanish market and protect players, rather than generate revenue through penalties. However, the figures highlight the challenges of turning administrative sanctions into actual financial recoveries.
Meanwhile, a new Royal Decree published last week in Spain’s Official State Gazette set out additional anti-money laundering obligations for online gambling operators.
Operators must verify that payment methods used for deposits and withdrawals belong to the registered gambling account holder. A six-month transitional period allows operators to adapt their systems to the new requirements.
Meanwhile, Players who registered before the requirements came into force will also have six months to complete the necessary verification.
Until they are verified, they can continue depositing funds using their existing payment methods but cannot withdraw winnings.
Earlier this month, Spain's regulator, DGOJ, and public digital agency Red.es established a framework for addressing potentially problematic .es domains connected to gambling
