Spanish Gaming Sector Tackles Regulation and Tech at Expojoc

Spain's gaming industry has confronted its most pressing operational challenges through a series of strategic roundtables at Expojoc 2026, addressing regulatory complexity, fiscal disparities, and technological transformation. The three panel sessions brought together senior executives to examine critical issues affecting sector competitiveness and compliance.

Regulatory Framework Harmonisation Debate

The opening session on regulatory challenges, moderated by Yolanda Barqueros from This appears to be a proper noun/brand name - verify correct spelling as it may be 'Merkur Dosnija' or similar, gathered industry leaders to discuss the complex regulatory landscape. Panellists included Bernhard Teuchmann from Novomatic Spain, José González from Luckia, Ana María Pérez from Grupo Ballesteros, and Pedro García from Grupo Orenes.

Participants emphasised the critical need for enhanced dialogue between operators and public administrations to establish clearer, more operational regulatory frameworks. The discussion highlighted concerns that excessive regulatory restrictions could produce counterproductive effects, potentially driving growth in illegal gambling offerings, a concern that aligns with EGBA calls for EU-wide crackdown on gambling fraud networks.

A key focus emerged around advancing harmonisation between regional and national regulations, viewed as essential for facilitating business operations and enabling innovation deployment. The panel also addressed Spanish consumer behaviour patterns and the importance of maintaining effective protection mechanisms for vulnerable populations.

Fiscal Disparities and Employment Challenges

The second roundtable, titled "Sustainable Future in Fiscal and Labour Matters," was moderated by Juan José Talaván from E.JU.VA. Panel participants included Fernando Henar from CEJ, Enrique Hevia from Grupo DC, Miguel Ángel Blanes from Axium Consulting, and Juan Miguel Pérez from Codere.

Discussion centred on fiscal burden variations between autonomous communities, which speakers identified as complications for operator competitiveness and strategic planning. The session addressed employment-related issues, particularly highlighting absenteeism rates of approximately 12% in the sector.

Panellists attributed this absenteeism figure to factors including stress, anxiety, and qualified personnel shortages. Proposed improvement strategies included implementing psychosocial support measures, increasing shift organisation flexibility, and establishing closer coordination between companies, worker representatives, and administrations.

Digital Transformation and Illegal Gaming Concerns

The final session focused on digitalisation, artificial intelligence, and illegal gambling, moderated by Kissy Chandiramani, councillor of Finance and Digital Transformation of Ceuta. Participants included Josep Prieto from IPS, Pedro Mateos from Triple Cherry, Karen Marcela Sierra-Hughes from GLI, and Iñaki Díez from Grupo Innova.

The panel examined the sector's technological evolution, with particular attention to artificial intelligence system development. Prieto explained advances toward multi-agent AI models designed to support autonomous business decision-making processes. Mateos and Sierra-Hughes discussed technology's potential for enhancing user experience personalisation and strengthening fraud prevention mechanisms.

In the session's closing segment, Iñaki Díez warned about illegal gambling growth, attributing significant weight to unregulated offerings versus regulated alternatives. The discussion opened reflection on cryptocasinos and their potential integration within supervised regulatory frameworks, issues that mirror broader concerns about digital transformation challenges affecting operator competitiveness.

Industry Adaptation Amid Multiple Pressures

The three roundtables collectively revealed a sector confronting significant changes across multiple fronts while attempting adaptation through regulatory, operational, and technological approaches. Despite diverse positions among stakeholders, participants shared common ground in diagnosing principal industry challenges.

The discussions underscore the Spanish gaming sector's complex navigation between maintaining regulatory compliance, managing operational costs across fragmented jurisdictions, and embracing technological innovation while combating illegal competition. For operators, the sessions highlighted the importance of engaging proactively with regulators and investing in both workforce stability and technological capabilities to remain competitive in an evolving market landscape.

According to AzarPlus.