Latin lessons: regulation as a competitive edge in LatAm
By
iGBA
Editorial
Daniel Castillo of www.mejorescasinos.com explains why he believes the deep learnings from running casino review sites in the tightly regulated Spanish market will translate into similarly successful and sustainable market entries across LatAm.
The evolution of online gambling in Spanish-speaking markets has provided valuable lessons for operators, affiliates and not least the review platforms themselves. Among the affiliates in this space, a select handful have managed to establish themselves as trusted guides for players navigating the world of online casinos across both Spain and Latin America.
Daniel Castillo of mejorescasinos.com explains how his company’s journey began in Spain. There a strong regulatory framework has shaped the landscape for years, and then expanded into LatAm markets – some fully regulated, others still on the path toward local regulation.
By running casino review sites in these diverse environments, the business has developed a unique expertise: learning from the challenges of local compliance, understanding cultural nuances and refining the ability to adapt to new jurisdictions as they come online. “Spain’s regulations taught us that the ‘Wild West’ days are ending everywhere,” says Castillo. “We learned to build sustainable businesses through brand trust rather than aggressive promotions.”
Spain’s regulations taught us that the ‘Wild West’ days are ending everywhere
Daniel Castillo
This knowledge has now positioned the company as a leader ready to thrive in emerging and soon-to-regulate LatAm markets, where agility and regulatory foresight are critical to long-term success. “In LatAm, we're not conducting less restrictive marketing, but smarter marketing,” he continues. “We're building compliance-ready operations, focusing on licensed operators and creating educational content. This proactive approach gives us a competitive advantage when LatAm markets inevitably regulate.”
Spain: a foundational experience
Spain was among the first major jurisdictions to adopt a comprehensive regulatory framework for online gambling. Since the introduction of the Spanish Gambling Act of 2011, operators and affiliates alike have had to work under clear yet stringent rules governing advertising, consumer protection, responsible gambling and licensing.
For Castillo and his team, being in the Spanish market meant embracing compliance as a cornerstone of growth. Unlike in grey markets, where affiliates can prioritise traffic and conversions over transparency, Spain demanded a new standard. Under the governance of Dirección General de Ordenación del Juego (DGOJ), the company had to adapt its marketing practices, ensuring promotions could not be misleading with clear terminology around bonusing.
Communications channels were subject to strict oversight meaning the casino review site learned how to craft content that was not only engaging but also compliant, emphasising transparency. The company’s website sets out these objectives clearly, stating: “The main objective of this website is to review all licensed online casinos in Spain. But not just naming their offerings; we’ll show you what each one really means in video and text.”
“We thrive by focusing on trust over bonuses, quality content over volume and educated players over bonus hunters,” explains Castillo. “The key is embracing regulation as a competitive advantage, investing in SEO and content and building genuine operator partnerships. Regulated markets reward professionalism and sustainability over quick wins.”
The key is embracing regulation as a competitive advantage, investing in SEO and content and building genuine operator partnerships
Daniel Castillo
With Spain mandating safer gambling messages and tools for self-exclusion, the company refined its editorial approach to highlight operators’ commitment to player protection. Aligning itself with licensed casinos and avoiding unregulated brands, the company’s flagship casino review portal became a credible partner in the ecosystem.
“Our DGOJ-only policy and honest reviews build authority. With 74% of Spanish players using traditional payment methods and preferring live roulette and sports betting, we cater to sophisticated preferences,” explains Castillo.
These experiences provided the company with an early understanding of how to balance commercial goals with long-term reputation and sustainability.
LatAm’s regulated pioneers
While Spain gave the review site the foundation, Latin America provided the growth canvas. Colombia became the first Latin American country to regulate online gambling in 2016, followed by others such as Mexico (with partial regulation), Argentina (province by province) and Peru (with new frameworks being implemented).
Operating in these markets taught the company that fragmentation requires localisation, unlike in Spain, where DGOJ governs the entire territory. There Castillo and his team learned to localise strategies, tailoring content, branding and recommendations to each jurisdiction.
“It’s absolutely critical that our operator partners know how seriously we take working within regulatory rules and frameworks in Spain and LatAm,” says Castillo. “Operators face severe penalties for affiliate non-compliance, including fines, licence suspensions and reputational damage. We're essentially an extension of their compliance teams. Our commitment differentiates us in crowded markets where operators seek responsible partners.”
By supporting locally licensed operators from the outset, the review site gained long-term advantages in traffic and trust. This collaborative mindset – growing alongside operators – has proven vital as more jurisdictions move toward regulation. “We maintain transparent communication, rigorous internal processes and collaborative campaign development,” continues Castillo. “Operators planning for long-term LatAm presence need partners who understand regulation and prepare for changes.”
On the runway
With a firm base in Spain and experience across regulated Latin America, the business is now well-positioned to enter emerging LatAm markets such as Brazil, Chile and others in Central America.These jurisdictions are in various stages of drafting or implementing gambling legislation. History suggests that affiliates and operators who prepare early will have the greatest advantage.
Chile's regulation will be transformative and positive
Daniel Castillo
Chile’s slow regulation process is finally coming online with a recent 20% tax agreement seeming a positive step. “Chile's regulation will be transformative and positive,” agrees Castillo. “The tax agreement signals serious government commitment to sustainable iGaming. Based on Spain's experience, we expect a level playing field eliminating unsustainable practices, increased player trust boosting market size, shift from quantity to quality marketing and new opportunities for compliant affiliates.”
This type of regulation serves to foster sustainable industry growth, benefiting professional affiliates.
Adapt to thrive
Perhaps the most important lesson the affiliate company has learned is that adaptation is not optional; it is existential. Regulation in online gambling is dynamic – laws change, governments tighten or relax restrictions and new technologies alter consumer behaviour with local markets having individualised player preferences.
“Spain favours sports betting (especially live) and live roulette while LatAm shows massive football passion plus a growing slots popularity with local themes,” notes Castillo. Meanwhile, technological differences also prevail – Spain balances desktop and mobile usage set against LatAm’s mobile-first/mobile-only and data-driven optimisation needs.
These differences are augmented by the payment methods prevalent across the different geos. In Spain, credit/debit cards account for 74% of transactions versus LatAm’s more fragmented payments landscape, where cash-based solutions remain essential due to unbanked populations. This means the review portal overseen by Castillo has had to learn to stay agile and flexible – whether through CPA, revenue share or hybrid agreements.
By maintaining dialogue with regulators, operators, and industry associations, the affiliate site ensures its business model evolves alongside the market rather than against it. “Our localisation goes beyond translation,” clarifies Castillo. “We adapt to local dialects, cover regional sports leagues, tie promotions to local holidays and collaborate with trusted local influencers.”
Set up for success
From its Spanish heritage, mejorescasinos.com brings compliance discipline and experience with strict advertising rules, while from Colombia and Argentina, it has accumulated localisation expertise and adaptability to fragmented jurisdictions. Meanwhile, from its broader LatAm presence, it brings an understanding of payments, cultural nuance and player trust-building.
Even in less-regulated LatAm markets, we implement Spanish best practices because player safety is core to our brand identity and long-term industry sustainability
Daniel Castillo
As regulation spreads across the region, the successful casino review site is not merely reacting – it is shaping its role as a trusted, player-first partner in helping users navigate safe, legal and enjoyable online gambling experiences. The company’s philosophy of “Juega donde te traten major” (“Play where you are treated best”) embodies this. “We only partner with licence-committed operators, provide dedicated responsible gaming pages with self-assessment tools and promote deposit limits, time-outs and self-exclusion features,” stipulates Castillo.
The review portal’s journey from Spain to Latin America has been a masterclass in adaptation, foresight and resilience. Now, as emerging markets like Chile follow others down the regulatory path, it stands ready – not as an outsider but as a seasoned player that understands the regulatory, cultural and commercial dynamics of the region.As Castillo concludes: “Even in less-regulated LatAm markets, we implement Spanish best practices because player safety is core to our brand identity and long-term industry sustainability.”
About the interviewee: Daniel Castillo is a leading casino research and regulation specialist with extensive expertise in Spanish-speaking markets, providing strategic insights and compliance guidance across Latin America's gaming industry.