Jdigital

Background and Governance

Jdigital was founded in 2014, emerging from Spain's regulated online gaming framework established by Law 13/2011. The association was created to represent licensed online operators and suppliers specifically, giving the digital channel a single collective voice in front of the DGOJ and political institutions. Its governance combines an elected president and board, drawn from member companies, with a small professional secretariat. Mikel López de Torre has served as president since being elected in April 2019, with re-election for terms covering 2021–2023 and beyond. The communications function is led by Cristina García, and research work on black-market data has historically been associated with José Antonio Gómez. Unlike a commercial operator, Jdigital has no C-suite; its public leadership is therefore president, secretary general and functional heads.

Policy Positions

Jdigital's central policy argument is that a balanced regulatory framework keeps players in the licensed market, while excessive friction pushes them to unlicensed sites. The association has repeatedly warned that Spain's advertising restrictions under Royal Decree 958/2020 and the cost of compliance create an uneven playing field against black-market operators. It has also supported player-safety measures, including a coordinated approach to deposit limits and the use of Spain's self-exclusion register RGIAJ. Jdigital's official position is that enforcement against unlicensed operators must be strengthened, alongside proportionate regulation of the legal offer.

Key Activities and Outputs

The association's flagship output is its annual black-market study, which estimates the size and gross gaming revenue of unlicensed online gambling in Spain. The 2021 edition put black-market GGR at around €520 million, and subsequent editions have tracked further growth in the unlicensed sector. Jdigital also organises the Jdigital Congress, an annual Madrid event connecting operators, suppliers, regulators and policymakers. In addition, it publishes position papers and market data, responds to regulatory consultations, and issues frequent press statements on Spanish online gambling legislation.

Market Position

Jdigital's membership is reported to represent the overwhelming majority of Spain's regulated online gambling market, with the association citing figures around 90% of legal online GGR. Member companies have included major international operators such as bet365, PokerStars, Betfair, 888 and bwin, alongside Spanish-facing brands such as Codere, Luckia and Retabet, and technology suppliers including Scientific Games. This breadth gives the association significant weight in Spanish policy debates and makes it the most frequently quoted private source on Spanish online gambling data.

Controversies

The association's black-market estimates have not gone unchallenged. In 2022, the then Minister for Consumer Affairs, Alberto Garzón, publicly disputed Jdigital's methodology and figures. Consumer groups have also criticised the association's opposition to advertising restrictions as self-interested. Jdigital has defended its research and its advocacy, arguing that the unlicensed segment is real, growing, and largely ignored by the prevailing regulatory approach.

Recent Developments

Under continuity in leadership, Jdigital has continued to focus on black-market risk and proportionate regulation. Its 2023 congress and updated black-market report kept those themes at the centre of the Spanish industry conversation. The association has also maintained its role as a consultative partner for European-level gambling bodies, while remaining a sharp critic of measures it believes harm the licensed market. Overall, Jdigital is best understood not as a service provider but as the principal institutional voice of Spain's legal online gaming industry.