SBC News Voice of the Sports Betting Industry
DGOJ, Spain’s Directorate General of Gaming, has launched a public consultation on “data requirements needed to update its regulatory framework”.
The consultation, which will run until 7 September, seeks feedback from industry stakeholders and the public on the DGOJ’s objective to overhaul the data provided to its ‘information monitoring system’ for Spanish Gambling
The Directorate’s proposal includes modifications to existing regulations, aiming to ” secure a new data model for the information monitoring system”.
Changes in data management are required as the DGOJ will handle the implementation process of new Royal Decrees on fostering safer gambling environments and commercial communications for gambling.
Approved in March, the new Decrees will require Spanish gambling operators to adopt new duty-of-care requirements by monitoring and record-keeping ‘risk profiles’ on customers under the age of 25.
The requirement will be enforced across all autonomous communities, in which the Ministry of Consumer Affairs demands tighter monitoring of gambling consumers aged 18-to-25 – deemed to be at risk of exposure to gambling harms.
Efforts to harmonise gaming markets across Spain’s autonomous communities have been ongoing since mid-2021, aiming for a unified industry development and a consistent data collection approach.
Previously, the 17 autonomous communities in Spain agreed to establish a common data registry, particularly focusing on self-exclusion gaming records. The current plan is to centralise data registration and management through the DGOJ reporting to the Ministry of Consumer Affairs.
During H2, Spanish online gambling incumbents will be required to begin integrating new KYC, customer monitoring, and compliance provisions sanctioned by the Ministry.
By 2024, the Spanish government seeks to fully implement all the measures of its “Royal Decree on Responsible Gaming Environments” – putting into place some of Europe’s most rigorous compliance and KYC regulations in order to safeguard underage and vulnerable individuals.
Spain enters a period of political uncertainty. Following a wipeout at the regional and local elections in May, the government of Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez has advanced the country’s General Election to 23 July.
