Online gambling advertising in Spain is subject to a specific regulatory framework managed by the DGOJ. Since Royal Decree 958/2020 came into force, the conditions under which licensed operators may advertise their services, including campaigns with influencers and streamers, have become stricter. This guide covers the general principles every operator should understand before activating a campaign with content creators in Spain.
What is the DGOJ, and why does it regulate influencer campaigns?
The Dirección General de Ordenación del Juego (DGOJ) is the Spanish Ministry of Consumer Affairs body that regulates, authorises and supervises online gambling in Spain. Any operator offering sports betting, casino, poker or other online games of chance to Spanish players must hold a current DGOJ licence and comply with its regulatory framework. This includes advertising: operators are responsible for ensuring that all their commercial communications, including those delivered through influencers, streamers or content creators, comply with current rules. The DGOJ may penalise an operator for non-compliant content generated by an influencer acting on its behalf, making prior review an operational requirement for any agency or marketing team working in this sector.
What advertising disclosure does the regulation require?
Every commercial communication from an iGaming operator must be clearly identified as advertising. In streamer campaigns, this means the creator must visibly and explicitly state that the content is a sponsored collaboration, both during the integration and in the video or stream description where the platform allows. The distinction between editorial and paid content cannot be ambiguous. An iGaming integration presented as a personal recommendation without advertising disclosure does not comply with the rules. At SocialPro, each campaign brief includes a dedicated section on the required disclosure formats for the platform (Twitch, YouTube, Instagram, Kick) and target market. This is checked during prior review of the integration script.
What responsible-gambling message must the streamer’s content include?
Spanish regulations require online gambling advertising to include responsible-gambling messages. In influencer campaigns, this means the creator must include an explicit reference to responsible gambling in sponsored content. Notices such as “gamble responsibly”, references to deposit limits or mentions of the RGIAJ self-exclusion service are common ways to meet this requirement. The exact timing and format of the message may vary according to the operator’s and its legal team’s interpretation. This is why every operator at SocialPro validates the integration script before publication: the responsible-gambling message is a mandatory review item that cannot be omitted from any campaign we manage.
How is iGaming advertising restricted for underage audiences?
DGOJ-licensed operators cannot target online gambling advertising at people under 18. In influencer campaigns, this requires verifying that the creator’s audience meets the required demographic profile. If a channel has a significant underage audience, it is not a suitable vehicle for iGaming campaigns. At SocialPro, we analyse each creator’s audience demographics before activation — average age and age-group distribution according to platform data — and document this analysis in the campaign file. Creators also cannot integrate iGaming into content specifically aimed at children or teenagers, regardless of their wider community’s composition.
Who shares responsibility for the content: the operator or the creator?
Both. Spanish regulations establish that the operator shares responsibility for advertising content generated by influencers acting on its behalf. If a streamer publishes an iGaming integration that does not comply with the rules, the operator cannot excuse its responsibility by claiming “it was the creator’s decision”. Operators must ensure their advertising collaborators comply with the regulations, which in practice means having a content review and approval process before publication. Creators, in turn, have responsibilities towards their audiences and the platforms where they publish. This shared responsibility is the operational rationale for the prior-review workflows SocialPro implements in all its iGaming campaigns.
How does content review work before an integration?
At SocialPro, prior review of iGaming content has three checkpoints. First, the creator receives an integration brief containing the mandatory responsible-gambling messages, operator-approved messaging restrictions and required advertising disclosures. Second, if the creator prepares a script or key talking points, SocialPro’s compliance team reviews them before the broadcast and sends them to the operator for approval. Third, after publication, we verify that the published content matches what was approved and document it in the campaign report. This process does not materially extend activation time: from the signed brief to the creator going live, the complete process takes less than 72 hours for standard campaigns.
Which specific restrictions did Royal Decree 958/2020 introduce?
Royal Decree 958/2020 of 3 November significantly tightened the conditions for online gambling advertising in Spain. Changes particularly relevant to influencer campaigns include restrictions on using public figures and celebrities in iGaming advertising, new conditions on advertising times and placements, and greater transparency requirements for identifying sponsored content. Some of these provisions have been subject to subsequent interpretation and adjustment. As regulations may evolve, SocialPro periodically reviews the applicable conditions and adapts compliance briefs to the latest interpretation. For specific cases, we recommend consulting the DGOJ or a specialist legal adviser.
How does iGaming compliance differ between Spain and LatAm?
Spain’s DGOJ-managed regulatory framework is one of Europe’s most structured for online gambling. By contrast, LatAm countries have frameworks at different stages of development. Colombia has Coljuegos as its regulator and an established framework. Mexico regulates at federal and state level, adding complexity. Argentina regulates by province. Chile and Peru are in the process of national online gambling regulation. This fragmentation means a campaign fully compliant in Spain may not meet local requirements in a particular Latin American market. At SocialPro, we adapt compliance briefs and creator selection to the applicable rules in each market before activating any cross-border campaign.
Frequently asked questions about DGOJ compliance
What is the DGOJ?
The Dirección General de Ordenación del Juego (DGOJ) is the Spanish Ministry of Consumer Affairs body responsible for regulating, supervising and controlling online gambling in Spain. Any operator wishing to offer online betting or casino services in Spain must obtain a DGOJ licence and comply with its regulatory framework, including advertising requirements.
Can a foreign operator without a DGOJ licence run campaigns with streamers in Spain?
No. Online gambling advertising in Spain is reserved for operators holding a current DGOJ licence. Running campaigns with Spanish influencers for an unlicensed operator exposes the operator to penalties and may create liability for the creator. At SocialPro, we verify each operator’s licence status before starting any briefing process.
Is the operator or the influencer responsible for the creator’s content?
Both. Spanish responsible-gambling regulations establish that the operator shares responsibility for content generated by influencers acting on its behalf. The creator also has responsibilities towards their audience. This shared responsibility is why prior review is not optional: it protects both parties.
What is the RGIAJ, and why does it affect streamer campaigns?
The Registro General de Interdicciones de Acceso al Juego (RGIAJ) is Spain’s register of people who have self-excluded from gambling. DGOJ-licensed operators must prevent people on the RGIAJ register from accessing their platforms. For influencer campaigns, this reinforces the obligation not to target iGaming content at vulnerable or self-excluded audiences.
Do iGaming advertising restrictions also apply on Twitch and YouTube?
Yes. The regulations apply to advertising content regardless of platform. An iGaming integration in a Twitch stream, a sponsored YouTube video or an Instagram story is subject to the same principles of transparency, advertising disclosure and restrictions on underage audiences. Platforms also have their own policies, which may be more restrictive.
What happens if a streamer publishes non-compliant iGaming content?
The operator may receive a DGOJ notice and face penalties ranging from warnings to fines or licence suspension. The creator may lose future sector collaborations and, in some cases, incur direct liability. This is why SocialPro requires prior review of all content before publication and does not activate campaigns without this step.
How long does SocialPro’s compliance process take for an iGaming campaign?
The full process — creator vetting, legal briefing, integration script review and operator approval — takes 24–48 hours for standard campaigns. For multi-territory campaigns or those involving many creators, it may take 3–5 working days. From final approval to the creator going live, activation takes less than 72 hours.
Are iGaming regulations in LatAm the same as in Spain?
No. Each Latin American country has its own online gambling regulatory framework, with significant differences. Mexico, Colombia and Argentina have their own regulations at different stages of maturity. Chile and Peru are in the process of regulation. SocialPro adapts compliance and creator selection to each market’s local rules before activating any LatAm campaign.
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