DGOJ chief urges operators to take greater care in selecting affiliate partners
Director general Mikel Arana calls for licensed firms to carry out due diligence to ensure affiliates aren't also directing players to the black market
Mikel Arana, director general for Spain’s Directorate General for the Regulation of Gambling (DGOJ), has warned that operators need to pay more attention to selecting affiliate partners.
Speaking at ICE 2025, Arana also highlighted the importance of greater collaboration between regulators and operators with regards to player protection and maintaining market fairness.
Arana put the emphasis on operators to take greater responsibility when selecting affiliate partners, claiming that companies sending players to both legal and illegal platforms at the same time “should not be an option”.
During the opening address of ICE’s world regulatory briefing on day one, Arana said: “Regarding the effort that operators could make, I would like to take this opportunity to request greater involvement in the selection of affiliates and suppliers concerning illegal gambling.
“An affiliate that simultaneously drives traffic to both legal and illegal websites should not be an option for a licensee. Similarly, operators should strive to work only with suppliers that offer their brands exclusively to legal channels.”
Arana’s comments come after similar calls to action in the UK, with the Gambling Commission having informed operators to review their third-party relationships in case suppliers are supporting illegal firms.
The DGOJ chief also highlighted the significant growth of Spain’s igaming sector in the last few years, indicating that the industry still has much further to grow in the Iberian nation.
Back in December 2024, the DGOJ reported that operators generated gross gaming revenue (GGR) of €348.1m for Q3.
This figure represented a 14.4% year-on-year (YoY) increase, as well as growth of 0.5% when compared to Q2.
Casino revenue accounted for €188m of the revenue total, up 17.3% YoY, while sports betting added a further €135.9m – a 19.8% YoY increase.
Arana added: “The sector has demonstrated significant growth, with gross gaming revenue increasing from €850m in 2020 to €1.2bn in 2023. This remarkable 45% growth over four years is a testament to the industry’s resilience and adaptability.
“This demonstrates that online gambling in Spain is far from reaching its peak.”
Arana also attributed a rise in gambling-related harm among young people to an increase in advertising in social media.
He cited statistics which showed the average spend of players aged between 18 and 19 rose from €83 in 2020 to €138 in 2023.
Arana continued: “We remain convinced that younger players were particularly more influenced by advertising on social media, especially the promotion of bonuses.
“The data shows a more ethical type of advertising can be positive without significantly affecting the relative profit of the industry.
“The statistics highlight the importance of maintaining a dual focus on commercial success and social responsibility.”