Representatives from seven European gambling authorities convened in Madrid on November 12 at the headquarters of Spain’s Directorate General for Gambling Regulation (DGOJ) to address shared regulatory challenges and strengthen cross-border cooperation on gambling oversight. The DGOJ operates under Spain’s Ministry of Social Rights, Consumer Affairs and Agenda 2030.
The meeting brought together technical specialists and senior officials from Austria, France, Germany, Italy, Portugal, the United Kingdom, and Spain. Spain’s delegation was led by Director General of Gambling Regulation Mikel Arana Etxezarreta.
The gathering formed part of the European Gambling Regulators Meeting, a recurring forum that enables national regulators to exchange insights on emerging trends, enforcement priorities, and practical challenges facing each jurisdiction.
Illegal Gambling and Affiliate Marketing Under Scrutiny
The opening working session, coordinated by Spain, focused on illegal gambling operations and the role of affiliates in promoting unauthorized operators. Spanish officials raised concerns about affiliate-driven promotion, noting that combating unlicensed activity requires regulatory coordination, monitoring of digital marketing practices, and development of common enforcement tools.
The discussion highlighted how affiliate marketing models frequently operate across national borders, necessitating cooperative regulatory responses to effectively address unauthorized gambling activities.
Payment Blocking and AI in Gambling Operations
Germany and Italy presented a joint session exploring payment-blocking strategies designed to disrupt transactions linked to illegal operators. Both jurisdictions shared their experiences implementing financial restrictions to limit channels available to non-compliant businesses, addressing both consumer protection and operational feasibility considerations.
France delivered a detailed presentation examining artificial intelligence applications in customer relationship management systems. The French delegation also addressed conflict-of-interest concerns in sports betting markets, particularly where data analytics and commercial incentives may intersect with regulatory monitoring responsibilities.
Self-Exclusion and Anti-Money Laundering Measures
Italy presented its model for face-to-face self-exclusion registration, providing an overview of procedural requirements and how in-person verification has influenced the reliability and administration of responsible gambling systems.
Austria concluded the technical sessions with an outline of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) mutual evaluation program and the new European legislative package on anti-money laundering measures. The presentation emphasized the importance of harmonizing AML approaches and ensuring alignment with global standards established by the FATF.
Looking Ahead: International Gaming Congress
The meeting closed with remarks from the Spanish delegation emphasizing the benefits of maintaining consistent collaboration among European regulators. Officials noted that sharing practical experiences, regulatory strategies, and enforcement challenges helps reinforce common standards and improves collective responses to emerging risks in the gambling ecosystem.
Several regulators who participated in the Madrid meeting—including representatives from Italy, Germany, the United Kingdom, and Spain—are scheduled to participate in the “1st International Gaming Congress: The Social Impact of Gaming,” organized by the DGOJ. Their contribution will feature in the Congress’s opening panel, “Challenges and perspectives of gambling regulation in Europe,” which will address ongoing initiatives and policy developments expected to shape the sector across Europe.
Source: Spain’s Directorate General for Gambling Regulation (DGOJ)
