DGOJ consults Spain’s gambling sector on proposed law reform
Regulation2 min read
Spain’s DGOJ met ANESAR and other gambling associations during consultations on reforming the national gambling law. ANESAR raised concerns about market balance, user protection and biometric access controls, while the DGOJ said the consultation had received more than 50 submissions.
Spain’s DGOJ has met ANESAR as part of consultations on a proposed reform of the country’s gambling law. FEMARA, FAMACASMAN and ACEO were among the other land-based gambling associations at the meeting.
The DGOJ said the meetings are intended to examine submissions before work advances on the draft legislation. The consultation reportedly received more than 50 submissions from citizens, organisations and industry participants.
ANESAR raised concerns about the possible expansion of public gambling operators’ products and terminals into new sales channels. The association warned that this could alter the market balance and extend gambling into outlets not subject to the same requirements as private land-based operators. ANESAR said the reform could address regulatory imbalances between public and private gambling channels.
The land-based associations want the new rules to recognise existing controls at physical premises and avoid unequal treatment of private venues and public gambling distribution channels. Land-based operators face access controls, licensing rules and local restrictions, while public gambling products reach consumers through wider commercial networks.
The associations cited their work on user protection and preventing access by minors and restricted individuals, as well as what they said was regulated venues’ contribution to low levels of gambling-related behavioural disorders in Spain. ANESAR said biometric technology could improve identification, reduce impersonation and strengthen security, and that it was working on the issue with the wider land-based sector. Any wider use of biometric systems would need to comply with data protection, privacy and proportionality requirements.
The DGOJ opened the preliminary public consultation in May 2026 to gather views before preparing a draft reform of Law 13/2011, Spain’s central national gambling framework since 2011. The reform seeks to address participant protection, illegal gambling and changes in the market.
The DGOJ will assess the submissions and meetings before deciding which proposals to include in the draft legislation. Industry sources have said the parliamentary timetable could make full approval of the reform difficult during the current term.