European Regulators Strengthen Efforts Against Illegal Gambling

European Regulators Coordinate Actions Against Illegal Gambling

Representing the DGOJ, an agency under Spain's Ministry of Social Rights, Consumer Affairs and Agenda 2030, were Eugenio Álvarez, Deputy Director General for Gambling Regulation, and Cecilia Pástor, Deputy Director General for Gambling Inspection.

One of the main priorities of the meeting was the development of joint tools to improve detection and combat illegal gambling offerings across European markets.

Proposal for a Common Portal to Identify Illegal Operators

During the sessions, the United Kingdom presented an initiative to establish a shared portal enabling regulatory authorities to exchange up-to-date information on websites and applications identified as illegal.

The proposal aims to facilitate access to relevant data across jurisdictions and improve coordination of enforcement measures against operators offering gambling services without the required authorizations.

Cooperation in identifying and monitoring unauthorized platforms remains one of the main challenges for regulators, particularly given the cross-border nature of digital gambling operations.

IP Address Blocking Under Review

Another key topic was the implementation of IP address blocking measures to restrict access to unauthorized gambling platforms.

Participants shared their experiences, results and challenges associated with these tools, focusing on the technical and operational obstacles affecting their implementation.

The discussions also explored potential ways to improve the effectiveness of blocking measures through greater coordination among European authorities.

Prediction Markets Bring New Regulatory Challenges

Prediction markets were also included in the meeting's agenda. Regulators exchanged information on the current status of these platforms across participating jurisdictions and the challenges they pose to national regulatory frameworks.

The growth of these digital products raises new questions regarding regulatory oversight and classification. As a result, the exchange of approaches among authorities is increasingly relevant to determining how their activities should be addressed in each market.

Spain Presents Assessment of Its Gambling Advertising Regulations

During the meeting, the DGOJ shared the main findings of its impact assessment of Royal Decree 958/2020, dated November 3, which regulates commercial communications for gambling activities in Spain.

The presentation provided an opportunity to outline the assessment's conclusions and the main regulatory lessons drawn from the implementation of the legislation.

Advertising regulation remains a key area of intervention for gambling authorities, both because of its impact on licensed operators and its connection with consumer protection policies.

Anti-Money Laundering and Regulatory Developments

The agenda also included sessions on anti-money laundering measures, public communication and awareness-raising strategies.

In addition, participating authorities shared the main regulatory developments introduced in their respective jurisdictions during the second half of 2026.

International Cooperation to Strengthen Online Gambling Oversight

Spain's participation in the Halle meeting forms part of broader cooperation efforts among European regulators to improve supervisory tools and tackle illegal gambling operations.

Information sharing, experiences with technological blocking measures and the assessment of new digital products are among the key challenges facing the industry.

As online gambling markets increasingly operate across national borders, coordination between authorities is becoming more important to strengthen controls over unauthorized operators and promote safer gambling environments.