DGOJ imposed a €10,000 fine on Make Money Now S.A for advertising unlicensed gambling operators through the popular Zona Gemelos platform.
Spain's gambling regulator has imposed a €10,000 fine on Make Money Now S.A, the company behind popular content creators known as 'Zona Gemelos', for promoting unlicensed gambling operators in breach of national regulations.
The Dirección General de Ordenación del Juego (DGOJ), integrated within the Ministry of Social Rights, Consumption and 2030 Agenda, sanctioned the company for serious infractions under Law 13/2011 on Regulation of Gambling. Make Money Now manages the Zona Gemelos website, a platform known for broadcasting live reality shows including 'La casa de los gemelos' and 'La cárcel de los gemelos'.
The regulatory investigation identified Make Money Now's activities as online gambling affiliate marketing, including direct links to unauthorised operators and commercial communications across multiple social media platforms. The company's promotional activities spanned Instagram, Kick, X, and Discord, targeting audiences through various digital channels.
The regulator emphasised heightened vigilance over high-audience platforms with significant youth followings, noting this demographic faces particular risks from online gambling exposure. These risks intensify when unlicensed operators fail to implement adequate digital safety measures and player protections.
Following initial information requests from authorities, Make Money Now voluntarily removed the prohibited advertising from its website. The company subsequently paid a reduced fine of €6,000, benefiting from two available reductions and waiving rights to administrative appeals. The sanction reduction was justified under article 85 of the LPACAP, recognising the removal of illicit advertising, acknowledgment of responsibility, and voluntary payment before final resolution.
This sanction forms part of wider enforcement action spanning the first quarter of 2026, during which the Ministry of Consumption imposed penalties on nine companies within Spain's online betting and gambling sector. The combined fines exceeded €10 million, totalling €10,290,500.
Of the nine resolutions issued by DGOJ, two addressed very serious infractions accumulating €10,000,000, while seven covered serious infractions totalling €290,500. The two companies sanctioned for very serious infractions were foreign online gambling operators operating without Spanish licences: Perfect Storm B.V and Rossobash SRL, each receiving €5,000,000 penalties plus two-year operational disqualifications.
€10,290,500
Total Q1 2026 Fines
9
Companies Sanctioned
€10,000,000
Very Serious Infractions Total
€290,500
Serious Infractions Total
221
Published Sanctions Since July 2021
€506,000,000
Total Fines Since 2021
The remaining serious infraction penalties targeted licensed operators who violated provisions under article 40 of Law 13/2011 on Regulation of Gambling. The six sanctioned licensed operators were WHG Ceuta S.A, Tombola International Malta PLC, Emotiva CLM SL, Beatya Online SA, DZBT Deportes SA, and TSG Interactive Spain SA. Fine amounts varied according to specific infractions committed.
Recent legislative modifications mandate publication of final serious and very serious administrative infractions on DGOJ's website. Complying with these transparency requirements, the Ministry of Social Rights, Consumption and 2030 Agenda has published all sanction resolutions finalised since July 2021. Since implementation, published sanctions total 221 cases with imposed fines exceeding €506 million.
Compliance Best Practices
Licensed operators should implement regular compliance audits focusing on article 40 requirements. Consider establishing quarterly internal reviews of promotional materials, bonus structures, and customer communication practices. Document all compliance measures taken, as demonstrating proactive responsibility can lead to reduced penalties if infractions occur.
The Make Money Now case highlights regulatory focus on affiliate marketing practices within Spain's controlled gambling environment. Content creators and influencer platforms face increasing scrutiny over promotional activities, particularly when targeting younger demographics through popular social media channels.
DGOJ's enforcement strategy demonstrates commitment to comprehensive market supervision, addressing violations across the regulatory spectrum from unlicensed foreign operators to compliance failures by authorised providers. The significant financial penalties and operational disqualifications signal Spain's determination to maintain strict gambling market controls while protecting consumers from unregulated offerings.
The transparency mandate requiring public disclosure of sanctions creates additional compliance pressure on operators, as reputational consequences compound financial penalties for regulatory violations.
Social Media Platform Risks
Content creators operating across multiple platforms face amplified regulatory exposure. Each platform requires separate compliance monitoring - Instagram's visual content, Discord's community interactions, and Kick's live streaming all present distinct regulatory challenges. Age verification becomes particularly complex when audiences span multiple demographics across different social channels.
According to AzarPlus.
Legal Disclaimer
This content reflects a general overview of regulatory frameworks based on publicly available information. It does not constitute legal advice or a legal opinion. iGamingWriter.blog disclaims any liability arising from reliance on this material.
Written by
Oleksandra YukalchukContent Partnership Manager
Oleksandra joined We–Right™ Factory in 2022, bringing sharp communication skills and a copywriting foundation to client-facing content work. She works closely with iGaming teams to translate business goals into actionable content briefs. On iGamingWriter.blog, Oleksandra shares insights on content localization, market entry strategies, and how editorial processes work behind the scenes.
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