Spain Review of Sports Betting Laws Ending, Changes Incorporated

Posted on: April 11, 2022, 06:54h. 

Last updated on: April 13, 2022, 01:03h.

Erik Gibbs Read More
Expertise: Asia Pacific Gaming, Gaming Business, Global Gaming.

Spanish lawmakers are in the process of updating the country’s sports betting laws. As they enter the last lap, they have to have all proposals in place this week.

Spain chamber of deputies
Spain’s Chamber of Deputies in their daily routine. The legislators are close to wrapping up the submission of proposals to update the country’s sports betting laws. (Image: Spain Chamber of Deputies)

Spain’s Congress of Deputies is preparing a draft update to sports betting laws, especially how to target potential match-fixing and fraud. Chamber lawmakers have only a few days until all proposals must be submitted.

This coming Wednesday is the deadline for the presentation of amendments in the Chamber of Deputies to the project’s articles amending Law 13/2011 on gambling regulation. The reform aims to introduce changes to reinforce control over the manipulation of sports competitions and against fraud in betting.

Spain has recently begun to make increased efforts to reduce potential match-fixing in sports. The country’s lawmakers seem to now be taking the bull by the horns to increase the focus.

Spain Bullish on Clean Sports Betting

The Bureau of the Congress greenlit the Health and Consumer Affairs Commission to develop changes. It adopted this agreement after the Council of Ministers approved a modification of the Law on gambling regulation during a meeting last month.

The modification introduces measures such as control over the manipulation of sports competitions and betting fraud. The lawmakers asserted at the time that game manipulation attacks the essential values of sports activity. It also distances fans and followers from the sports ecosystem.

The approval by the Bureau of Congress facilitated the inclusion of an additional provision to the original laws. These established that, in order to allow smooth and unencumbered investigations of potential issues, the General Directorate of Gambling Regulation (DGOJ, for its Spanish acronym) will restrict the rights of access, rectification, limitation, deletion, opposition and portability regarding the processing of data in it.

The goal of the amendments is to provide a technical, coordinated, and comprehensive response to potentially fraudulent practices. According to the Ministry of Consumption, that response could lead to administrative or criminal procedures.

Creating a Unified Response

To increase its fight against potential match-fixing and other related issues, Spain created the Global Betting Market Research Service (SIGMA, for its Spanish acronym). This technical instrument will include interactive cooperation between different elements but managed by the DGOJ.

It is also accessible electronically for registered entities, including the State Security Forces and Bodies and the Higher Sports Council. In addition, it has support from sports federations, professional leagues, and gambling operators with an enabling title.

Through SIGMA, any participating entity can transmit information about possible fraud or rigging related to sports betting.. The objective is that the rest of the system members have proof of this information. They can then use it to verify the implications of the possible fraud committed in their specific field of action.

With this modification, the Ministry of Consumer Affairs gives this tool legal grounding. This, in turn, strengthens the instruments of the DGOJ in favor of safe gambling and against rigging and fraud in betting.