TLDR
- Spain’s gambling regulator, the DGOJ, has opened a public consultation on changes to the Remote Gambling Act.
- Proposed changes include stricter ID checks, a registry for approved software suppliers, and new advertising limits.
- The Spanish government has approved cross-operator deposit limits, with testing starting September 25.
- H2 Gambling Capital expects the deposit limits to cut onshore player spending by about €300 million a year.
- The DGOJ is taking enforcement action against Polymarket and Kalshi, but sports-based prediction betting may still fit current rules.
A recent Gaming in Spain webinar looked at several changes coming to Spain’s regulated betting market. The event covered proposed law changes, new deposit limits, and the future of prediction betting in the country.
The panel included Xavi Munoz Bellvehí of ECIJA Barcelona, Camille Gonzálvez, a TMT and iGaming lawyer also at ECIJA, and Josh Hodgson, chief operating officer at H2 Gambling Capital.
Spain’s gambling regulator, the DGOJ, has started a public consultation on changes to the Remote Gambling Act. The goal is to update rules that govern how betting companies operate in the country.
One proposal would add stricter player identification checks. These are meant to help prevent income tax evasion tied to gambling winnings.
Another idea is a registry for approved business-to-business software suppliers. This would help regulators track down illegal gambling operations using unapproved technology.
The consultation also includes new advertising restrictions. These would build on rules the Spanish government has already put in place to limit gambling marketing.
Any of these changes would need new legislation passed before they take effect.
Deposit Limits Coming in Stages
Just before the webinar, the Spanish government approved a new system of deposit limits that apply across all licensed operators.
A six-month testing period is set to begin on September 25. Full implementation is planned for March 25, 2027.
H2 Gambling Capital estimates the new limits will reduce yearly onshore player spending by roughly €300 million.
The firm also expects channelization, the share of betting that happens through licensed operators, to drop from 76 percent to 74 percent in 2027. It expects that number to settle around 71 percent starting in 2028.
Prediction Betting’s Future in Spain
The webinar also covered prediction betting, a fast-growing category that lets people wager on the outcome of events.
The DGOJ recently announced enforcement action against prediction platforms Polymarket and Kalshi. Still, panelists said current Spanish law might already allow some forms of prediction betting to operate.
Gonzálvez explained that Spain already permits betting where players wager against each other and the operator only acts as a middleman. Under that model, prediction markets focused on sports or horse racing could potentially work within existing rules.
Panelists also said the impact prediction markets have on traditional sportsbooks is often overstated. They pointed to how prediction platforms calculate transaction volume differently than standard betting operators.
People who want to learn more can attend the 2026 Gaming in Spain Conference in Madrid on October 15. The agenda will include the DGOJ’s new problem gambling detection tool and the rollout of the deposit limit system.
Spain’s DGOJ Director General, Mikel Arana, is confirmed as the headline speaker. Other confirmed speakers include representatives from Jdigital, MartínAndino Abogados, Loyra Abogados, ECIJA, the European Gambling Gathering, MDF Partners, Blask, and Mindway AI.
