DGOJ, Spain’s Directorate of Gambling, hosted its first sectoral meeting focused on preventing money laundering and terrorist financing.
The event brought together gambling industry leaders, Spain’s Treasury, and SEPBLAC, a federal intelligence unit that helps businesses combat financial crimes and reduce risks.
DGOJ Director General Mikel Arana led discussions, urging stronger cooperation within the Spanish gambling sector to support authorities in fighting anti-money laundering (AML) risks.
Arana stressed that AML compliance is a government priority and a key part of the DGOJ’s ongoing gambling law reforms, overseen by the Ministry of Consumer Affairs.
Treasury associate Irene Sánchez Pérez presented updates on regulatory developments and upcoming compliance duties that the European Commission will enforce in high-risk sectors like gambling.
A SEPBLAC-led roundtable discussion followed, where experts shared insights on financial crimes and addressed concerns from licensed operators.
The DGOJ reaffirmed its commitment to promoting security and legality in online gambling through collaboration and compliance measures.
In 2024, the DGOJ strengthened Spain’s sports integrity and improved protections against match-fixing. Spain joined the Macolin Convention and launched the SIGMA programme, a betting market monitoring database covering all Spanish sports.
However, progress on federal gambling law reforms stalled. The Royal Decree on Responsible Gaming Environments remains unfinished, with calls for a cross-operator deposit limit and a national database for gamblers under 25 still pending.