Spain’s gambling regulator wants a clearer legal framework for prediction markets as event contracts become more visible to local consumers. DGOJ director general Mikel Arana said the existing approach needs to account for products that differ from conventional sports betting while still applying gambling safeguards when their underlying activity meets the legal definition of gaming.
Arana set out the position during a panel at MERGE Madrid, according to SBC Noticias. He said companies whose products constitute gambling must obtain the relevant license before serving customers in Spain. Prediction-market platforms that fall within that category cannot operate legally in the country without authorization.
The regulator is not treating every event contract as gambling by default. Classification depends on the product’s substance rather than its use of blockchain, cryptocurrency or financial-market terminology. That distinction leaves room for case-by-case assessment while giving operators notice that technology labels do not remove licensing obligations.
The remarks did not introduce a dedicated prediction-market license or announce a specific legislative amendment. They instead describe how the DGOJ is applying the current framework while examining newer digital business models. Arana said the immediate priority remains legal compliance and a safe gambling environment as Spain considers whether more specific rules are required.
