The Spanish Directorate General for Gambling Regulation (DGOJ) has imposed a €10,000 fine on Make Money Now SA, a production company known for its online reality shows, for promoting a gambling operator that lacks a Spanish license. Announced on Thursday, this penalty is part of a wider regulatory effort targeting the Spanish gambling industry in the first three months of 2026, during which penalties exceeded €10 million. This enforcement action highlights the importance of compliance with Spain’s gambling laws and the regulator’s dedication to curtailing unlicensed gambling activities.
Make Money Now SA, responsible for livestreamed programming like “The House of the Twins” and “The Prison of the Twins,” was determined to have engaged in affiliate-like promotions for an unlicensed gambling operator. The DGOJ outlined that such actions violate Spain’s Law 13/2011 on Gambling Regulation, which aims to regulate the gambling sector and protect consumers. The investigation indicated that links and promotional content were shared on multiple social media platforms used by the company, including Instagram, Kick, X, and Discord. These platforms are particularly popular among younger audiences, raising concerns about the promotion’s impact on vulnerable viewers.
The regulatory body emphasized the risks posed by unlicensed operators, especially those who might bypass consumer protection standards. In response to the findings, Make Money Now SA promptly removed the offending advertisements and acknowledged its oversight, leading to a voluntary settlement with the DGOJ. Due to these cooperative actions and adherence to procedural guidelines under Spain’s administrative law, the initial fine was reduced from €10,000 to €6,000.
The penalty against Make Money Now SA aligns with the DGOJ’s broader enforcement measures in early 2026, where the agency issued nine final rulings against various online betting and gambling entities. These efforts resulted in cumulative fines amounting to €10.29 million, with two cases classified as “very serious” accounting for €10 million of this total. These serious violations involved offshore operators that had been illegally providing betting services without the necessary Spanish licenses for two years.
Since amendments to the Gambling Regulation Act in 2021, which require the publication of administrative sanctions, the DGOJ has increased transparency in its regulatory approach. Since July 2021, the regulator has issued 221 sanctions, resulting in fines surpassing €506 million. This reflects a heightened regulatory climate aimed at both licensed operators and unlawful foreign entities targeting the Spanish market.
The DGOJ’s ongoing efforts underscore the importance of a regulated gambling environment in Spain. The regulatory body recently published its Safe Gambling Programme for 2026-2030, which outlines measures intended to protect young people from gambling-related harms. This initiative includes examining the influence of social media on gambling behaviors and developing standard mechanisms to identify risky online gambling activities.
Looking forward, the DGOJ plans to continue its rigorous oversight of the gambling industry, ensuring compliance with national laws and protecting consumers from unlicensed operations. The regulator’s initiatives highlight the ongoing challenges faced by operators in navigating the complex regulatory landscape, with enforcement actions likely to persist as authorities strive for greater market integrity and consumer safety. The next steps involve the continued implementation of the Safe Gambling Programme and a focus on enhancing detection tools for risky gambling behaviors, alongside sustained enforcement against non-compliant operators.
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