Spain has mandated that all licensed sports betting and horse racing gambling firms join SiGMA. [Image: Shutterstock.com]

Spain’s General Directorate for the Regulation of Gambling has mandated that all sports betting and horse racing gambling firms licensed to operate in the country join the Global Betting Market Investigation Service (SiGMA).

According to news reports, the initiative is focused on enhancing the integrity of sports betting via the prevention and tackling of fraud within the vertical.

includes any activity that might indicate fraudulent behavior”

The new rule decrees that all licensed gambling firms “must immediately report any irregular or suspicious bets to SIGMA. This includes any activity that might indicate fraudulent behavior.”

The Cyprus-based SIGMA has made inroads into Spain by garnering support from law enforcement agencies and leading bodies, such as the Royal Spanish Football Federation, the Professional Football League, the Royal Spanish Tennis Federation, the Association of Spanish Footballers, and the Higher Sports Council.

In Spain, the government is responsible for regulating gambling and online betting. Declaring that operators must have SiGMA membership reinforces the gambling Directorate’s aim of creating “a more transparent and secure betting environment.”