Spain, France, Germany, Italy, Portugal, Belgium, the Netherlands, Poland and Switzerland have signed an institutional declaration in order to strengthen oversight of the sports betting market and prediction markets during the FIFA World Cup 2026.
This was announced in a statement by Spain’s Ministry of Social Rights, Consumer Affairs and the 2030 Agenda, which specified that it will “intensify surveillance,” through the Directorate-General for Consumer Affairs and Gambling, with the aim of guaranteeing user protection and the integrity of the sector.
The Consumer Affairs authority has stated that it will supervise “with special attention” that gaming platforms operate within the limits established by current regulations regarding licenses, advertising, and player protection. It has also committed to adopting “appropriate measures” to enforce the law.
The institutional declaration also focuses on prediction markets, considering that “in countries where they are not authorized, they operate without the guarantees required by regulations and may include elements that encourage problematic gambling behavior.”
A few weeks ago, the Consumer Affairs authority opened a sanctioning proceeding against the platforms Polymarket and Kalshi, and ordered the blocking of their websites in Spain for not holding the corresponding administrative license.
Sports Leagues
European authorities have urged federations, leagues, clubs, and sports teams to verify the legal status of the companies with which they might sign commercial or sponsorship agreements, in order to comply with the legislation of each country.
It has stated that cross-border cooperation will continue once the World Cup is over, consolidating coordination mechanisms that contribute to a “safer, more transparent and responsible gaming environment for all users.”