TECHNOLOGY IN RG
S pain’s gambling industry stands at a pivotal moment, shaped by political dynamics, technological disruption, and an increasing emphasis on consumer protection. Since 2018, the rise of the left-leaning PSOE party has oriented the national agenda toward a more pro-consumer approach, while regional governments, often leaning right, have introduced more moderate adjustments, particularly impacting land-based operations. But perhaps the most significant force reshaping the landscape is the relentless march of technological progress. This article will guide readers through the most significant and recent milestones in this ongoing regulatory evolution, both at the national and regional levels, revealing how Spain is navigating this complex interplay of forces. National level: Online gambling developments New system of joint deposit limits per player Law 13/2011, of May 27, on the regulation of gambling (the ‘Spanish Gambling Law’), established the overarching framework for gambling activities at the national level and online gambling in Spain. This law, in addition to providing legal certainty for operators and participants, has among its main objectives the protection of certain vulnerable groups, the prevention of addictive behaviours, and, in general, the protection of consumers. Protective measures are detailed through developing regulations, mainly the Royal Decree 1614/2011 (the ‘RD 1614/2011’). This decree covers licenses, approvals, registration, access control, information disclosure, deposit limits, and the General Register of Access Prohibitions to Gambling (the ‘RGIAJ’). Additionally, Royal Decree 958/2020, of November 3, on commercial communications of gambling activities (‘RD 958/2020’), and Royal Decree 176/2023, of March 14, developing safer gambling environments (‘RD on responsible gambling’), supplement these measures by addressing commercial communications and creating safer gambling environments respectively. Since the regulation of online gambling in Spain began, establishing deposit limits for participants has been a primary protection measure. The current regulation of deposit limits
is outlined in Article 36 of the RD 1614/2011, which mandates that gambling operators establish daily, weekly, and monthly deposit thresholds for each participant. The default limits are set at €600 per day, €1,500 per week, and €3,000 per month. Additionally, participants can explicitly request to modify, restrict, or remove these limits at any time following specific requisites. This means that, for example, a participant registered with five operators and set with a daily limit of €600 per operator could deposit up to €3,000 daily across all platforms or even more if the participant has requested an increase of the limits. As expressed by the Spanish Gambling Authority, the Directorate General for the Regulation of Gambling (the ‘DGOJ’), this system has proven insufficient for multi-operator participants prompting the proposal of an additional control measure: a system of joint deposit limits per participant. This has been introduced through the Draft Royal Decree amending Royal Decree 1614/2011, which develops Law 13/2011 on gambling regulation, specifically regarding licenses, authorizations, and registration procedures (the ‘Draft RD on joint deposit limits’). This voluntary and complementary system aims to enhance player control, allowing participants to set a total deposit cap across all gambling operators with whom they have registered accounts. The system ensures that the combined deposits do not exceed the predefined limit within a specified period. Participants may choose lower limits than the mandatory single-operator limits and can modify or remove these limits at any time. However, any increase or removal is subject to a three-month waiting period. A key feature of this system is the centralized management by the DGOJ. Gambling operators will need to integrate their deposit control systems with the joint deposit limit system managed by the DGOJ, and consider the information contained therein before accepting deposits from registered participants. The system is expected to be approved and published in the official Spanish State Gazette in Q3 2025, with entry into force projected after a 12-month transition. The DGOJ has planned a nine-month testing period, acknowledging the technical challenges involved.
IMGL MAGAZINE | SEPTEMBER 2025
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