Spain’s gambling regulator has issued a financial penalty to the company behind a widely followed online content channel after identifying the promotion of an unlicensed operator. The case forms part of a broader enforcement effort that saw more than €10 million in sanctions applied across the sector during the opening months of 2026.
Regulator targets unlicensed promotion on social platforms
The Dirección General de Ordenación del Juego (DGOJ), operating under Spain’s Ministry of Social Rights, Consumer Affairs and Agenda 2030, imposed a €10,000 fine on Make Money Now S.A, the firm responsible for the Zona Gemelos platform. The company produces livestreamed reality-style content, including shows such as La casa de los gemelos and La cárcel de los gemelos.
Authorities determined that the company had promoted an online gambling operator without a valid Spanish licence. This conduct falls under what regulators classify as a serious breach of Law 13/2011 on Gambling Regulation. Investigators identified activity consistent with affiliate marketing practices, including the use of direct links to unauthorised operators and commercial messaging distributed across social media channels such as Instagram, Kick, X and Discord.
Officials highlighted concerns linked to the audience profile of the platform, noting that content with strong youth engagement raises additional risks. The regulator pointed to the absence of consumer protection safeguards typically required from licensed operators, stressing that exposure to such promotions could heighten vulnerability among younger users.
Following an initial request for information, the company removed the offending advertising material. The administrative record indicates that Make Money Now acknowledged its responsibility and opted to settle the matter through a voluntary payment. As a result, the penalty was reduced to €6,000, reflecting procedural reductions permitted under Spain’s administrative law framework due to corrective action, admission of liability, and early payment.
Over €10 million in sanctions issued in early 2026
The case involving Zona Gemelos sits within a larger set of enforcement decisions published by the regulator for the first quarter of 2026. In total, nine rulings were finalised, with combined penalties reaching €10,290,500.
Two of these cases were categorised as very serious violations, accounting for €10 million of the total. These involved foreign-based operators offering gambling services in Spain without holding the required licences. The companies identified in these rulings were Perfect Storm B.V and Rossobash SRL, each receiving fines of €5 million. In addition to financial penalties, both operators were barred from operating in the Spanish market for a period of two years.
The remaining seven cases were classified as serious infringements and involved companies holding licences but failing to comply with specific regulatory obligations outlined in Article 40 of Law 13/2011. These included WHG Ceuta S.A, Tombola International Malta PLC, Emotiva CLM SL, Beatya Online SA, DZBT Deportes SA and TSG Interactive Spain SA. The fines in these instances varied depending on the nature of each breach.
Enforcement transparency and long-term oversight
Spain’s regulatory framework has evolved in recent years to increase public visibility of enforcement actions. A legislative update introduced in 2021 requires the publication of final administrative sanctions involving serious and very serious violations. In line with this requirement, the regulator has continued to release detailed rulings through its official channels.
Since July 2021, a total of 221 sanctions have been published, with cumulative fines exceeding €506 million. This figure reflects sustained oversight across both licensed operators and offshore entities targeting Spanish consumers.
The regulator has also expanded its focus to include the broader digital environment in which gambling content appears. As part of its Safe Gambling Programme 2026–2030, new initiatives aim to study how social media influences gambling behaviour and to develop systems capable of identifying risky patterns of online activity.
The recent sanction against Make Money Now illustrates how enforcement extends beyond operators themselves to include third parties involved in promotion and distribution. The case signals ongoing scrutiny of marketing practices, particularly where unlicensed operators gain visibility through popular digital platforms.
Source:
Consumo sanciona a la productora de ‘Zona Gemelos’ por publicitar un operador de juego ilegal, ordenacionjuego.es, 29. April, 2026