Europe

DGOJ, the Directorate General of Gambling in Spain, has commenced the testing phase of its key project on applying a cross-operator deposit limit system.

The phase provides a six-month period for DGOJ-licensed operators to test the system and prepare for its full launch, scheduled for 25 March 2027, which is set as a ‘provisional date’.

The project is considered the key initiative of the Ministry of Consumer Affairs’ wider overhaul of gambling protections under the mandate of the Royal Decree on Gambling Environments.

Authorised in 2023, the timetable was set by Royal Decree 520/2026, published in Spain’s Official State Gazette on 25 June.

The decree requires the DGOJ to provide operators with a test version six months before the system becomes mandatory. Technical specifications for connecting to the centralised system will be issued to licences by the DGOJ.

As such, testing begins on a new ‘centralised system’ that will count and record all customer deposits across all onli..

Dutch gambling trade body VNLOK has summoned Meta to court, making good on its promise to legally challenge the tech giant over allowing illegal gambling ads on its platform.

Earlier in June, VNLOK filed a complaint with the European Commission relating to an alleged large influx of gambling ads promoting illegal operators to Dutch consumers across both Facebook and Instagram.

The complaint was filed on the basis of numerous VNLOK surveys examining the gambling marketing content on Meta’s platforms. According to the trade body, the findings highlighted that ‘more than 90% of the analysed gambling ads on Facebook were related to illegal operators’ .

What’s more, the results published by VNLOK showed that ‘only 11% of the illegal content targeting Dutch consumers was removed in May, and a further 15% in June’.

Therefore, VNLOK accused Meta of insufficient actions to protect the Dutch market, leading to the tech giant being summoned to an Amsterdam court.

Björn Fuchs, Chairman of VN..

The Administrative Court of Lithuania has confirmed it will determine whether to fine Olympic Casino Group Baltija €8.5m by 19 October.

Proceedings have been disclosed to Olympic Entertainment Group (OEG), the operating company of Olympic Casino Group, the Lithuanian subsidiary of the Baltic gaming group, which believes that its subsidiary should face no action.

The dispute stems from an investigation into the gambling activity of Šarūnas Stepukonis, a former partner at investment firm BaltCap.

LPT, the Gaming Supervisory Authority of Lithuania, found five alleged breaches of gambling and anti-money laundering rules linked to his activity between December 2016 and June 2021.

The regulator says Olympic Casino failed to do enough to establish where the money Stepukonis was losing had come from. It also found that the company’s monitoring of his transactions was ineffective.

OEG is challenging the decision. Its Lithuanian subsidiary argues that the regulator has misread both the r..

The Central Bank of Türkiye (TCMB) has suspended fintech Papel Elektronik Money’s operating licence for soliciting financial transactions of illegal gambling and helping hide funds related to activities connected to illicit gambling.

The enforcement was disclosed in this morning’s ministerial gazette (23 September) of the Central Bank’s orders to suspend Papel Elektronik and its online wallet and money transfer services.

The gazette reported that TCMB had summoned a review of Papel’s licence in January, and ordered the company to be put under trusteeship of the Savings Deposit Insurance Fund (TMSF).

Papel is being investigated over allegations that its payment infrastructure was used to move money from illegal betting, fraud and unauthorised forex. The case is based on reports from the central bank and Turkey’s Financial Crimes Investigation Board MASAK (The Financial Crimes Investigation Authority).

Investigators say proceeds entered the financial system via electronic money se..

Bulgaria’s ruling Progressive Bulgaria party has put its Gambling Act reforms draft up for public consultation, calling for a complete ban on gambling advertising.

The proposed restrictions drafted by Prime Minister Roumen Radev’s cabinet replace the current legislation with a near-total ban on all types of marketing.

Adverts to remain self-contained

Any advertising of gambling games, operators, their related trademarks and distinctive signage, regardless of its type, method, place or distribution is fully prohibited under the proposals.

This applies to all communication channels – TV, radio, print, outdoor, online, social media, apps, streaming services, and others.

Some caveats apply. For one, operators will be allowed to use gambling messaging on their own websites and on their land-based premises – with the only information allowed referring to game-related organising and participation.

Furthermore, building-adjacent casino signage will also be permitted, with the total area..