Chavdar Vasilev is a gambling news writer with several years of experience in the iGaming industry. He started creating promotional content but soon found he loved reporting on the industry itself. Since then, he’s delivered...
Read Full BioSpain’s General Directorate for the Regulation of Gambling (DGOJ) is intensifying efforts to combat identity theft in online gambling.
The regulator recently convened a meeting with medical and scientific experts to share findings and discuss preventative strategies in protecting consumers.
The DGOJ met with representatives from the scientific section of the Responsible Gambling Advisory Council (CAJR) and the medical field of the Madrid City Council. Central to the discussions were results from the Action Protocol for Impersonated Taxpayers (PACS).
PACS is a joint initiative launched by the DGOJ, the Spanish Tax Agency, and the National Police. It was created to help individuals whose identities have been stolen and used for online gambling and tax evasion.
DGOJ and PACS Data Shows Scope of Identity Theft
Data from PACS indicates that in 2024, there were nearly 8,000 complaints. The majority (91%) were related to sports betting. Most victims were men, with only 16.5% being women. The findings revealed that almost 5% of individuals who have won over €100 ($113) in online gambling were victims of identity theft.
According to PACS, perpetrators commonly target friends or family, especially the identities of minors, those registered in the General Register of Access Prohibitions to Gambling, or those previously blocked by operators.
To avoid detection, fraudsters use payment methods that are difficult to trace, such as electronic wallets.
They also display abnormal gambling behaviors, such as high-frequency betting over extended daily hours. On average, the perpetrators use the stolen identities for 7.5 days for online gambling, compared to an average of 35.8 days for general identity thefts.
To combat the issue, the DGOJ has established tools, including an email address, [email protected]. It has also introduced a Phishing Alert service on its website and reinforced identity verification requirements for new players.
The DGOJ has also shared the PACS findings with other European regulators. Additionally, it has hosted meetings with licensed operators and regulatory and supervisory bodies to address the prevention of anti-money laundering and terrorist financing in online gambling.
Spain’s Ongoing Consumer Protection Actions
As gambling revenue in Spain continues to rise, the DGOJ and Spanish authorities are intensifying their efforts to protect consumers.
At the beginning of May, the DGOJ announced that it had fined 14 operators for violating the law.
Thirteen of those received fines of €5 million ($5.66 million). Meanwhile, one received a €10 million fine ($11.3 million) for repeat offenses, totaling €75 million ($84.9 million).
At the same time, the DGOJ also issued 11 fines to licensed Spanish operators, totaling €2.4 million ($2.7 million), for violating gaming regulations.
Looking ahead, the Spanish government is in the process of introducing tighter ID check rules to protect adolescents.
The proposal will necessitate ID verification from slot machines and other gambling-related devices at land-based venues and online platforms. The goal is for anyone under Spain’s legal age to gamble, 18, to be denied access.
