Viva la Suerte: Dive into the Exciting Spanish Gambling!

Spain is one of the most active gambling regions in the world, with an estimated 8 in 10 people gambling actively. As far back as 30 years ago, Spanish gambling was legal, but regulation came about in 2011. 

Recent statistics show that gambling in Spain keeps flourishing more than ever before. The 2020 pandemic boosted its popularity and participation. Players now access numerous land-based and online casino settings to enjoy this entertaining activity. 

Today’s casino news examines Spanish gambling, its history, regulation, and current statistics. 

The Beginning of Spanish Gambling

Spain’s gambling history dates back to the 1800s when the first Christmas lottery was introduced. These were interesting times for Spain, which ended between 1922 and 1977 when gambling was banned. But once it was legalized again, it quickly became a popular and enjoyable activity for the people of Spain.

By 2006, online gambling had become legal. This law allowed people to bet on sports online and through licensed betting shops. The first official casinos for sports betting opened in 2008 so players could later immediately access online slots and exciting table games like Lightning Roulette, Mega Blackjack, etc.

Moving on, in 2011, the Spanish Gambling Act was passed. This act made online poker legal and created rules to ensure fair and safe gambling online and in physical casinos. As of 2020, sports betting was very popular in Spain, with the government releasing different regulations to keep them under check.

Cutting-Edge Innovations that Transform the Gambling Experience

Spanish Gambling Activities Today

As already established, gambling is an exciting activity in the country. In fact, according to a report by CeJuego’s Game and Society survey, a whopping 83.9% of Spaniards engage in the activity. The study revealed 23.3 million individuals engaged in national lotteries, one of the top casino games ever played in the country, ONCE games, or La Quinela in 2022.

However, that same report found that around 5.6 million people, which is about 15 to 20% of the population, chose not to engage in Spanish gambling. They had various reasons for this, such as religious beliefs and concerns about losing money. Also, age factors and income were involved—individuals under age 25 and those living in low-income households also refrained from gambling. 

Men held the record for being more active, with 14.3% saying they played the National Lottery every week, including Thursdays and Sundays. This is slightly higher than the 12.3% of women who said the same.

Spanish Gambling Revenue

Seeing how much Spanish players enjoy gambling, it’s only proper to know how much income is generated from this. 

In 2023, Spain’s gambling revenue in the second quarter skyrocketed by 55.1% compared to the previous year, reaching €312.6m – the highest Spain has ever recorded. Furthermore, the 2nd quarter was 2.5% higher than the first. 

The Directorate General released these statistics for the Regulation of Gambling (DGOJ). All the income were influenced by different parts of the iGaming industry. Let us look at each one and their contributions. 

Casinos and Sportsbooks Earnings

Casino made €149.9m, 27.9% more than last year and 4.5% more than the first quarter. Online slots alone increased by almost 30%, while virtual roulette increased by almost 9%. Other games like poker had a 27.6% increase, getting over €25.8 million.

Sports betting had the biggest growth this quarter. In just three months, the total amount of money bet reached €133.3m, 118.9% more than last year. Live betting also saw an increase of 3.5%. 

Bets on horse riding had a big jump of 22.7%, but the money from bets on other sports slipped by 15.1%. Bingo GGR made €3.5 million, 5.5% more than last year and 5.5% higher than Q2 this year.

Players Deposit Inputs

Regarding related activity, the DGOJ reported that player gambling bankroll deposits increased by 19.6%. This is higher compared to last year. However, it decreased by 2.0% compared to the first quarter. Withdrawals, however, were 3.0% higher than in 2022 but 2.3% lower than in the first quarter.

Last year, the number of people actively gaming each month increased by 11.4% to reach 1,134,993. However, the number of new accounts created each month decreased by 3.0% to 102,804 users. According to multiple online casino game reviews, competition in this business is tough, but loyal players continue to play at their favorite online casinos.

Casinos and Sportsbook Inputs

Licensees in Spain spent €96.6 million on marketing, which is 3.0% more than last year. Advertising spending increased by 7.7%, affiliate spending went up by 56.2%, and sponsorship skyrocketed by 225.2%. However, promotions decreased by 1.7%.

Also, the DGOJ released a new report showing how many companies are operating in the Spanish gambling market. A total of 78 companies provided different types of gambling services in the second quarter. Of all the licensed operators, 43 provide sports betting, 50 offer casinos, nine offer poker, three include bingo, and two organize contests.

Conclusion

Spanish gambling has come a long way from being illegal to visiting land-based and online casinos while enjoying the best online casino bonuses. Recent statistics and activities show that this industry is not slowing down soon, so we hope to see new developments, games, promotions, and much more on the eastern side of the globe.

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