Directorate General for the Regulation of Gambling Licensing Requirements and Fees
La Dirección General de Ordenación del Juego (DGOJ), also known as the Directorate General for the Regulation of Gambling, is the governing body for gambling in Spain. It is responsible for regulating the industry, supervising it, coordinating it, and controlling it.
The DGOJ can also enforce sanctions. As a regulatory body, it has been active since March 2011, and it complies with the fortieth provision of the General Budget Law of 2010.
- Jurisdiction: Directorate General for the Regulation of Gambling
- Website: https://www.ordenacionjuego.es/
- Address: C/ Atocha, 3 Madrid 28012
- Email: [email protected]
- Phone: +34 91 571 40 80
- Founded: 2011
- Register an Online Casino Complaint: https://www.ordenacionjuego.es/en/reclamaciones
- Rating:
What Does the Directorate General for the Regulation of Gambling Do?
The basis for this regulatory body is the same as any other in the gambling industry. The purpose of the DGOJ is ensuring player protection while participating in live online casino gambling. At the same time, it ensures fair gaming is practiced at all gambling sites and operators are held accountable for any instances of non-compliance with their licence rules.
For an operator to secure a gambling license from the DGOJ, it must agree to all rules associated with such. As a result, you can always guarantee that you are betting in a secure environment as part of a platform holding such a license.
Directorate General for the Regulation of Gambling Licence Requirements
Online gambling is regulated by Law 13/2011 of 27 May 2011. This applies to the offering of wagering online both from within Spain and to Spain. Prospective licensees generally need to meet particular gambling regulation requirements. DGOJ license fees or the tax associated with applying for a gambling permit include €38,000 for technical reports, €2,500 for registering each license and €10,000 for each gambling license.
At least two licenses must be applied for in relation to online gambling, which are general and singular. The general license is granted by an open public tender, with requirements surrounding technical, financial, reputational compliance, software security and reliability requirements. Anti-fraud and anti-money laundering requirements are also part of this.
Other necessities for a DGOJ gambling license include:
- Incorporation in Spain or elsewhere in the EEA as a Sociedad Anónima (SA) or the EEA equivalent.
- If the applicant is not based in Spain, they need a permanent representative in Spain with the capacity to receive notifications and e-notifications.
- The company’s objectives must be restricted to the organization, commercialization and exploitation of gaming/betting activities.
The documents filed with the applications fall into three separate groups, which are:
Legal Solvency – Includes:
- Corporate documents.
- Certificates that it has no outstanding tax and social security payments.
- Relevant administrative fees.
Economic Solvency – Includes:
- Annual accounts of the last three years.
- Description and origin of the own and external resources planned to be used for the development of the relevant activity.
- Economic guarantees of significant amounts.
Technical Solvency – Proved through various documents and certifications from independent bodies.
How to Issue Complaints to the Spanish Regulator
The DGOJ also deals with complaints made by participants against the country’s licensed gambling operators. Before reaching out to the regulatory body, players are encouraged to discuss the issue with customer support team of the online gambling site. Maybe you’ve experienced some issues with casino payment methods or disputes about bonus offers, If the response from the operator is not satisfactory, then you can lodge a complaint with the DGOJ.
Any person participating in online gambling and/or national lotteries may lodge such a complaint. This can be about the actions or omissions of nationwide licensed gambling operators in Spain, which affect that person’s interests.
Any complaints must be lodged in writing and have to include information on your identity (including name and surname as well as national identity document), the means by which you wish to be contacted, precise facts behind the complaint, dates and times, a signature from you, and more.
Two ways exist of lodging a DGOJ complaint. You can send a message to the electronic office of the body using the Complaints Relating to Gambling form found here on the website. You also need to have an electronic DNI or another digital certificate issued by an accredited certification authority. Alternatively, you can write your complaint on paper in the form of a signed document, which is submitted at a physical government registry office or at a post office and addressed to the DGOJ.
Types of Licences provided by DGOJ
To offer gambling in Spain, there are three types of DGOJ licenses to choose from. These general licenses exist in the form of "bets", "contests" and "other games". As well as this, the online gambling scene also has games that can be offered via a singular licence. The games possible to offer this way include:
- Bingo
- Blackjack
- Roulette
- Baccarat
- Slots
- Poker
- Complementary Games
- Fixed Odds Betting
- Fixed Odds Sports Betting
- Sports Pool Betting
- Fixed Odds Horse Betting
- Horse Pool Betting
- Exchange Betting
If the gambling options an applicant wants to offer do not fall into any of these categories, then they cannot be offered within Spain.
Verifying If a Casino Is Regulated by the Gambling Authority
If you’re not sure on the licensed status of an online casino in Spain, then you can always find out easily. You just need to know what to look for at the platforms. Any licensed site will have a seal highlighted there from the DGOJ. Stamps of approval will also be present from independent bodies, noting that the casino or gambling site is legitimate, licensed and regulated.
Alternatively, if you’re unable to find that information on the gambling site, you can turn to the official DGOJ website. There, you will find a list of licensed operators in Spain, so you can always investigate the collection to try and find the operator hosting the site you’re intending to join. You can easily enact these steps by doing the following:
01
Scroll to the bottom of the online gambling site to seek out the DGOJ logo.
02
Visit the DGOJ website and click on ‘Licensed Operators’ to search for the operator in question.
Costs and Benefits of the Gaming Regulator
- All licensed operators must have links to safer gambling portals
- Licensing available for a variety of gambling options
- Excellent complaints procedure in place
- General licenses last for 10 years
- Single licenses are only granted for a minimum term of one year and a maximum of five
- Costly application fees
Casinos Regulated by Directorate General for the Regulation of Gambling
While the creation of the DGOJ was intended to be temporary (serving as a basis for the future National Gaming Commission), it has remained active in its original form. Thus, operators now place their faith in it, considering it has been operating properly for over 10 years.
The list of regulated operators at the DGOJ website may not be as extensive as those found at the UK Gambling Commission or Malta Gaming Authority. Yet there is still a good number of companies utilizing it for licensing status, such as Betfred, Casumo, Gamesys, LeoVegas, and more.
FAQ
When Did the DGOJ Begin Operating?
The Directorate General for the Regulation of Gambling launched in 2011.
What Type of Licences Does the DGOJ Offer?
Three types of general licenses are provided by the DGOJ – "bets", "contests", and "other games".
Singular licenses are also present for specific gambling games and options.
How Much Does It Cost to Apply for a Spanish Gambling Licence?
It costs €38,000 for technical reports, €2,500 to register each license and €10,000 per license.
Where Can I See a DGOJ Licence at an Online Casino?
You can usually see a DGOJ license by navigating to the footer of an online casino and seeking out the logo.
Can I Complain to the DGOJ about an Operator That I Think Is Unlicensed?
Yes, you can submit a complaint about an operator that you believe is unlicensed in Spain.
You can do this by visiting the DGOJ website and filling out a complaints form.
