Gambling authorities from Germany, Austria, France, Great Britain, Italy, Portugal, and Spain have agreed to share information and coordinate enforcement actions to address the growing challenge of illegal online gambling operations across Europe.
Gambling authorities from Germany, Austria, France, Great Britain, Italy, Portugal, and Spain have agreed to share information and coordinate enforcement actions to address the growing challenge of illegal online gambling operations across Europe. The agreement was confirmed during a meeting at Spain’s Directorate General for Gambling Regulation (DGOJ) on November 12. See the bigger picture in our extensive report 2025 iGaming Compliance Wrapped.
The collaboration reflects mounting concerns about unauthorized operators who evade national oversight and operate across multiple jurisdictions without adhering to regulatory requirements. Officials noted that rapid technological innovation and the borderless nature of online gambling create significant risks for consumers.
Three Pillars of Cross-Border Cooperation
The agreement establishes three main areas of coordinated action. First, participating countries will exchange information and data on illegal operators to improve tracking and identification. Second, regulators will coordinate complaints to social media platforms and digital networks to restrict unlawful advertising. Third, authorities will share best practices and knowledge to strengthen detection, investigation, and enforcement capabilities.
The spread of unauthorized gambling advertisements across social media, video platforms, and affiliate networks represents a primary concern. These promotional materials often blur the distinction between licensed and unlicensed providers, exposing vulnerable populations—including minors—to unregulated gambling products.
Legislative Measures in Spain
The cross-border agreement coincided with the 1st International Gaming Congress in Madrid, which brought together senior officials, industry operators, and academic researchers to discuss regulatory approaches across Europe.
Pablo Bustinduy, Spain’s Minister of Social Rights, Consumer Affairs, and the 2030 Agenda, emphasized the importance of protecting minors and preventing early exposure to gambling products. Andrés Barragán, Secretary General of Consumer Affairs and Gaming, outlined recent legislative measures passed by Spain’s Congress of Deputies, including a total ban on welcome bonuses for new players and strict requirements that all online gaming payments must be processed using bank cards registered under the account holder’s name.
Regulators from Italy, Germany, the United Kingdom, and Spain presented sector challenges and strategies for consumer protection during the congress, highlighting the diversity of regulatory approaches across Europe.
Notable Absences Raise Questions
The seven-country agreement notably excludes regulators from the Netherlands and Sweden, two jurisdictions with established online gambling markets. The absence of these countries from the initial collaboration raises questions about whether additional European regulators will join future enforcement efforts.
Broader European Consumer Protection Initiatives
The joint declaration forms part of wider European efforts to strengthen consumer protection in gambling. GambleAware recently called for stricter regulations and mandatory health warnings on all gambling content. The European Gaming and Betting Association (EGBA) welcomed the approval of a new European standard on markers of harm, designed to identify risky gambling behaviors and support harm prevention.
The voluntary framework for regulators and operators, approved by national standardization bodies, is expected to be published in early 2026.
The agreement represents a shift toward coordinated European enforcement against illegal gambling operations. While national regulatory systems differ across participating countries, authorities acknowledged that unauthorized operators who move between jurisdictions require a unified response rather than isolated national actions.
Source: European Commission / DGOJ
