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Global Gambling Regulators Issued $184.4 Million in Fines Throughout 2024

Flexi Group

In 2024, gambling regulators worldwide imposed financial penalties amounting to $184.4 million (€177.9 million/£148.2 million). This marked a sharp decline of 73.3% from the record-breaking fines of $442.6 million issued in 2023. Over the course of the year, regulators handed out 70 fines, a drop from the 96 issued in the previous year.


Global Gambling Regulators Issued $184.4 Million in Fines Throughout 2024

Spain led the way in regulatory enforcement, with the country’s Ministry for Consumer Affairs setting a new record by issuing €65,325,000 in fines to online gambling operators throughout 2024. A total of 15 gambling operators faced penalties, with 13 of them being companies that operated in the Spanish market without a license. The fines issued last year brought Spain’s total financial penalties for the gambling sector to €398 million since 2021.


Australia’s gambling regulators followed with $58.5 million in fines, a significant drop compared to the $311.4 million recorded in 2023. The largest individual fine of the year was handed down by the Federal Court of Australia, which ordered SkyCity Adelaide Pty Ltd to pay AU$67 million ($44.6 million/€41 million). This fine resulted from proceedings initiated by the Australian Transaction Reports and Analysis Centre (AUSTRAC).


The Netherlands Gambling Authority (Kansspelautoriteit) imposed fines totaling $25.7 million, with the most substantial penalty levied against Gammix Ltd. The company was ordered to pay $21.3 million for illegal gambling activities, marking a record-breaking fine for the Dutch regulator.


Sweden also saw considerable regulatory action, with its gambling authority, Spelinspektionen, collecting $11.5 million in fines throughout the year. The largest of these penalties was a $2.7 million fine imposed on Spooniker for offering unauthorized bonuses.


In the United States, gaming commissions issued fines amounting to $9.4 million across 2024. The most significant penalty came in January when the U.S. Justice Department fined MGM Resorts $7.5 million. The case was related to illegal sports betting operations that former Resorts World Las Vegas president and chief operating officer, Scott Sibella, was aware of.


Gaming License

The United Kingdom’s Gambling Commission collected £6.6 million ($8.4 million/€8 million) in fines, a substantial drop from the £214.2 million recorded in 2023. The highest fine in the UK came in January, when Gamesys Operations Limited was ordered to pay £6 million ($7.6 million/€6.9 million) due to social responsibility and Anti-Money Laundering (AML) failings.


Other countries also issued penalties, although on a smaller scale. Finland’s gambling sector faced fines totaling $3 million (€2.9 million/£2.4 million), while Italian regulators imposed $1.4 million (€1.3 million/£1.1 million) in penalties. Meanwhile, Canada’s Ontario province recorded a modest $21,483 (€20,652/£16,969) in fines.


The breakdown of fines issued by country in 2024 is as follows:

  • Spain: $69.3 million (€65.3 million/£55.3 million)

  • Australia: $58.5 million (€56.2 million/£43.2 million)

  • Netherlands: $25.7 million (€24.6 million/£20.3 million)

  • Sweden: $11.5 million (€11 million/£9 million)

  • United States: $9.4 million (€9 million/£7.3 million)

  • United Kingdom: $8.4 million (€8 million/£6.6 million)

  • Finland: $3 million (€2.9 million/£2.4 million)

  • Italy: $1.4 million (€1.3 million/£1.1 million)

  • Canada (Ontario): $21,483 (€20,652/£16,969)

By fLEXI tEAM


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