| 
European gambling regulators gathered in Madrid for the annual Encuentro Europeo de Reguladores del Juego. This event brought together senior authorities from Austria, France, Germany, Italy, Portugal, the United Kingdom, and Spain. Hosted by the Dirección General de Ordenación del Juego, the meeting highlighted how rapidly evolving technology, cross-border operations, and new player-protection challenges are reshaping regulatory priorities across the continent.
Spain’s Director General Mikel Arana Etxezarreta opened the sessions by stressing the need for continuous, structured dialogue among European jurisdictions to maintain market transparency and safeguard vulnerable players.
The day began with a detailed examination of illegal gambling, a topic that remains one of the most urgent concerns for regulators. Delegations discussed the growing role of affiliate networks that promote unlicensed operators, often exploiting loopholes in national and EU legislation. Authorities noted that irregular advertising and mirror websites continue to obstruct enforcement efforts. They agreed that coordinated action is essential, as illegal platforms operate across borders and rely on sophisticated visibility strategies that no single country can effectively disrupt on its own.
Germany and Italy jointly presented an analysis of their payment-blocking frameworks, explaining how collaboration with financial institutions has become central to limiting the revenue streams of unlawful operators. Both regulators outlined how payment monitoring tools can identify suspicious flows and cut off access to banking channels. They emphasised that these systems are only as strong as the technological and procedural consistency achieved between countries. Harmonising processes, they said, remains a priority for building a Europe-wide shield against the financing of illegal gambling.
France contributed a technical report addressing artificial intelligence within the customer relationship management systems of licensed operators. French officials warned that while AI can refine personalisation and strengthen behavioural monitoring, it also introduces new regulatory risks. Particular concern was raised about sports betting, where automated analysis could influence operator decisions, affecting transparency and potentially creating conflicts of interest. Regulators agreed that clear rules are needed to ensure AI supports consumer protection rather than undermines it.
Italy returned to the floor to detail its structured in-person self-exclusion register, which is widely regarded as one of the continent’s most controlled models. Delegates heard that Italy’s system relies on direct identity verification and supervised procedures, providing high confidence that vulnerable players are protected from immediate access to gambling platforms. The presentation reaffirmed Italy’s leading position in player-protection policies.
Austria provided an overview of key findings from the recent FATF evaluation and explained how new EU anti-money-laundering standards will intensify supervision. The upcoming framework will require operators to meet enhanced due diligence standards, increase financial transparency, and adapt to the establishment of the European Anti-Money Laundering Authority. Authorities acknowledged that AML oversight is becoming a domain where international cooperation cannot be optional.
Spain closed the meeting by emphasising that a stable system of information exchange must guide Europe’s regulatory future. Several regulators will now continue discussions at the Congreso Internacional de Juego, where panels will explore AI risks, predictive models for harm detection, and the increasingly debated overlap between gaming, social entertainment, and gambling. The combined events underscored a clear message from Madrid: European regulation is entering a new phase shaped by technology, coordinated enforcement, and growing attention to social impact.
