Warning: Undefined array key "post_type_share_twitter_account" in /var/www/vhosts/casinonewsblogger.com/public_html/wp-content/themes/cryptocurrency/vslmd/share/share.php on line 24
Spain’s gambling regulator has fined a media production company for promoting an unlicensed betting operator, marking one of several enforcement actions taken during the first quarter of 2026. The penalty forms part of a broader campaign led by the Directorate General for Gambling Regulation (DGOJ), which issued more than €10 million in fines across multiple cases.
Make Money Now S.A., the company behind the online content platform Zona Gemelos, initially received a €10,000 fine after authorities determined it had promoted a gambling operator without a license to operate in Spain. The activity was classified as a serious breach under the country’s Law 13/2011 on Gambling Regulation.
Social media promotion triggers enforcement
The DGOJ found that the company had engaged in affiliate-style marketing by distributing promotional content and links to the unlicensed operator across several social media platforms. These included Instagram, Kick, X, and Discord, where Zona Gemelos maintains a significant online presence through livestreamed reality-style programming such as “La casa de los gemelos” and “La cárcel de los gemelos.”
Authorities emphasized that such promotional activity constitutes a violation when it involves operators not authorized under Spanish law. The regulator described the conduct as a “serious” infraction, citing the dissemination of commercial communications that directed users to unauthorized gambling services.
Officials also highlighted concerns about the audience demographics of the platforms involved. Many of the channels used by Zona Gemelos attract younger viewers, which raised additional scrutiny from regulators. Spain’s Ministry of Consumer Affairs stressed that younger audiences are particularly vulnerable to gambling-related risks, especially when exposed to operators that do not adhere to national safeguards.
Fine reduced after compliance and cooperation
Following contact from regulators, Make Money Now removed the advertising content and acknowledged its role in the violations. The company opted to settle the matter through Spain’s administrative procedures, which allow for reduced penalties under certain conditions.
As a result of removing the illicit promotions, accepting responsibility, and making an early voluntary payment, the company qualified for reductions under administrative law provisions. The original €10,000 fine was subsequently lowered to €6,000.
The case reflects the enforcement mechanisms available under Spanish law, where cooperation and corrective action can influence the final penalty imposed.
Broader crackdown across the gambling sector
The sanction against Make Money Now is one of nine rulings issued by the DGOJ during the first quarter of 2026. Together, these cases resulted in total penalties of €10.29 million, covering both serious and very serious violations within the online gambling sector.
Two of the cases accounted for the majority of the total fines, with €10 million attributed to what regulators classified as “very serious” infractions. These involved offshore operators that had been offering gambling services in Spain without proper authorization. The companies—Perfect Storm B.V. and Rossobash SRL—were each fined €5 million and barred from operating in the Spanish market for two years.
Additional sanctions targeted licensed operators that breached regulatory requirements outlined in Spain’s gambling laws. Companies such as WHG Ceuta S.A., Tombola International Malta PLC, Emotiva CLM SL, Beatya Online SA, DZBT Deportes SA, and TSG Interactive Spain SA were fined varying amounts depending on the nature of their violations.
Increased oversight and transparency efforts
Spain has expanded its regulatory oversight in recent years, particularly following amendments to gambling laws that require public disclosure of sanctions. Since July 2021, the DGOJ has issued 221 penalties totaling more than €506 million, reflecting a sustained effort to monitor both domestic and foreign operators.
The regulator has also introduced new initiatives aimed at addressing emerging risks linked to online gambling. Its Safe Gambling Programme for 2026–2030 outlines plans to study how social media influences gambling behavior and to develop systems capable of identifying problematic activity in digital environments.