Soft2Bet has acquired a Spanish gaming operator holding a General License for other games

The register is formed of the data of citizens who voluntarily do not wish to exercise their rights to gamble and of those who are declared incapacitated by a legal ruling. In addition, depending on the activity developed by the white-label operator (which provides the look and feel), an entity may also be categorised as a “gaming operator”. For clarification purposes, the definition contains three essential components, which are “chance”, “pay-to-play” and “prize”.

What are the criteria for casinos to be licensed in the U.S.?

If a B2B operator meets the requirements established by the regulation, it is subject to licensing and, technically speaking, will be considered a gaming operator. Each region has its own regulation for each type of premises licensing – casinos, gaming halls, bingos and betting shops. Therefore, the requirements for licensing depend on the premises and the autonomous region in question. LAE and ONCE maintain the monopoly on lotteries offered at a federal level, and only some regions allow lottery operators. At the national level, gambling operators remain under dual supervision by SEPBLAC and the DGOJ. However, in 2025, SEPBLAC adopted a stricter interpretation of compliance requirements, clarifying that video identification has been mandatory since 2016 under its official authorisation.

Holding a DGOJ license is mandatory for any operator offering gambling services to Spanish residents online. Depending on the Region, gambling premises can be limited in number (e.g., Basque Country, Catalunya or Galicia). Additionally, all Spanish Regions have set minimum distances between some types of gambling premises and between gambling premises and educational centres. Likewise, the opening hours are different depending on each Region and on each type of gambling facility. This is also the case for bingo halls, which are subject to regulations on size, number, location and opening hours, depending on the regulations of the Regions. A guarantee in cash, real estate mortgage, insurance or security for an amount of €2,000,000 for general betting and other games licences, or €500,000 for contest general licences, must be set.

Spain’s regulatory framework is designed to meet strict financial and operational standards before authorisation is granted. The Spanish Gambling Act of 2011 sought to pull together the various regulations in relation to online betting and online gambling that were in existence across the regions of Spain. While communities continue to have the power to determine gambling rules and policies at a regional level, there are a set of stringent regulations in place that every jurisdiction must strictly adhere to. For example, no minors who are under the age of 18 are permitted to enter any type of gambling venue, including bingo halls, slot machine arcades, casinos or online casinos. Under the rules of the Spanish Gaming Commission, licenses for online casinos and gambling sites, i.e., iGaming licenses, can only be issued every 18 months. Each license is initially granted for ten years, and subsequent renewals also cover a ten-year duration.

Gambling and online gaming in Spain is generally considered to be safe and secure, which is fantastic news for Spanish online and mobile casino players. Last but not least, another recurring concern is the disproportionate nature of the measure and the risk that such a stringent model may unintentionally expose players to greater harm. By pushing them towards the unregulated market – where these protective measures do not apply – vulnerable players could be left without adequate safeguards. The relevant threshold is set around the concept of the “significant” shareholder, which is defined by the corresponding domestic law of the operator company.

With nearly 85% of Spanish adults engaging in some form of gambling each year, it is clear that gambling is not just a pastime, but it’s part of the cultural heritage of Spain. Meanwhile, every casino operator, casino employee, and gaming vendor must be licensed by the commission prior to participating in the casino gaming business in Ohio. State law requires anyone applying for licensure to establish their suitability to obtain a license. This board is responsible for issuing and regulating gaming licenses within the State. You will have to submit an application for a restricted license, which includes your personal history, financial information, and a criminal background check. The application fee will be paid by the casino, but the casino may require individual occupational licensees to provide reimbursement and may deduct the fee from an individual employee’s pay check.

Given the regulatory distinction regarding the gambling sector in Spain, infractions and the related sanctioning regime are approved by the Spanish Gambling Act and by each autonomous region with respect to its territory and competence. Second, on 16 October 2025, the CJEU issued a landmark judgment affirming the regulatory powers of the Generalitat Valenciana to impose restrictions on gambling, provided that such measures comply with the principles of suitability, necessity and proportionality. The Spanish gambling sector is currently adapting to the new EU AML/CFT framework adopted in June 2024, which includes the establishment of the EU Anti-Money Laundering Authority (AMLA), the single-rulebook AML Regulation, and the 6th AML Directive. The new framework seeks to harmonise AML standards, enhance supervision, and ensure closer co-ordination with European bodies such as the European Central Bank (ECB) and the European supervisory authorities (ESAs).

2 Definition of Gambling

Operators that proactively adopt new regulatory measures and embed efficient compliance systems can reduce the risk of disputes, strengthen trust, and improve their relationship with online casino curacao legal the regulator. In light of the foregoing, the DGOJ proposed a new framework introducing an aggregate deposit limit for individual users across accounts held with multiple operators. This system is intended to function independently while complementing the existing deposit limit control mechanisms already upheld by each operator.

Depending on the autonomous region, they can also be offered at a regional level; in both cases, they are subject to licensing. Spain’s gambling industry is entering a new phase of regulatory sophistication and technological innovation. As of 2025, several high-impact trends are reshaping how licensed operators must approach compliance, user protection, and business growth.

This guide offers a comprehensive legal overview of Spain’s gambling landscape in 2025—covering licensing structures, compliance rules, application procedures, and market trends. Whether you’re a sportsbook, casino platform, or tech provider, this page will help you assess what’s required to enter and operate legally in Spain. Online gambling activities are defined as those games that are played with electronic, computerised, telematic and interactive means and those in which personal attendance is of an accessory nature. This scope encompasses the so-called “auxiliary terminals and machines” that are used for the organisation, operation or development of gambling activities.

It’s very important that you make copies of the required documentation if you plan to mail the application. Our advanced white label iGaming software solution will ensure swift entry to Spain’s iGaming market. Because of these taxes, Spain is considered to be a tax-competitive country, compared to other European markets. Further, in collaboration with DGOJ, NCMC interacts with operators via audits, investigations, and enforcement actions when found suspicious. I love Game Art slots and games,they have great graphics on slots games.I had the opportunity to play there’s games and they are really good.Also am happy to belong to western Europe so that i know and recognize these games.

The Keystone State legalized online gambling during the summer of 2019, which was very welcome news, seeing as this state has the second-largest gambling market in the United States. The Act regulates all kinds of sports betting and random combination games, poker and slots. In the region of 100 general licenses and 200 single licenses have been issued to around 60 gambling venues and online casino sites in Spain. There are currently over 60 casinos, 7 racetracks, and more than 250,000 gambling machines in operation, and analysts estimate that the betting market in Spain has exceeded that of the UK in recent years. In Spain, the transfer of licences is prohibited, except when such a transfer results from a corporate restructuring of the licensed entity, in which case it is permitted but subject to prior authorisation from the DGOJ.

Key Requirements for Obtaining and Maintaining Licenses

To apply for an Indiana occupational license, an individual must first have an offer of employment from an Indiana casino. To obtain a gaming license in Illinois, you have to first make sure you are located in a municipality that allows video gaming. Because a Colorado gaming license is considered a public benefit, evidence of lawful presence must be provided and verified. The managerial applications require more detailed information about finances, including personal and professional assets if you plan to invest in the casino business.

• In 2023, 42 sanctions were imposed, many of them for offering gambling in the Spanish territory without a licence – the average fine imposed was €5,000,000.
• Note that the law does not limit the number of licenses, and the issuance procedure provides for checking the reliability of the operator and its compliance with the relevant requirements.
• On a daily basis, the CNMC monitors the advertising and promotional activities of gambling operators to prevent unfair advantages or misleading promotions.
• Indeed, the DGOJ has committed to continuing to intensify the existing policy of domain name system (DNS) blocking and monitoring payment traffic to identify the main black market operators targeting the Spanish market.
• As for the feedback received from operators, one of their biggest concerns is the immediate entry into force of the new mechanism.

After careful inspection, the company representative will add your name and contact number to the MGC Fee Log. But if the background investigation reveals that the applicant is not suitable for State Certification, the Department will issue an intent to deny the application, which entitles the applicant to a hearing. The TGO issues the Tribal Gaming License for the gaming facility; all gaming employees must have a Tribal Gaming License to work in a casino.

Gambling machine operators are required to pay gambling taxes on a quarterly basis to the Region in which the gambling machine is operated. It is an annual fixed amount that is paid that varies from Region to Region, depending on the type of machine (annual average at approximately €3,500 for machines not operated in casinos). A licensee will not be granted a licence, or it will be withdrawn if it or its management get involved in certain circumstances related to, e.g., crime, bankruptcy, failure to comply with the State or Regions’ gambling regulations, tax, or social security obligations, etc.

The tax rate for online gambling at a regional level, subject to each regional regulation, is 10% on GGR in most of the regions. The Spanish AML regulation establishes the instructions, proceedings and duties that online and land-based gambling operators need to apply for the prevention of money laundering. The duration of regional licences depends on each regional regulation and, if applicable, on the conditions of the public tender process. Customarily, it takes between three and six months from the submission of the application for the regulator to review and proceed with the granting of the relevant licence. Land-based gambling and online gambling at a regional level are regulated by each of the 17 autonomous regions in Spain and the autonomous cities of Ceuta and Melilla.

Every state in the United States is free to regulate or prohibit gambling within its boundaries. According to industry information, only two states completely outlaw all forms of gambling, Hawaii  and Utah. Commercial gaming activity in the state is regulated by the West Virginia Lottery Commission (“Commission”). The most common reasons for denial are insufficient information, failure to pay the proper fees or issues discovered during the criminal or financial background investigations.