Gambling in Spain

The Spanish like gambling. Most forms of gambling can be found in Spain. Gambling locations are often part of multi-purpose locations. The minimum gambling age is 18. The Spanish online gambling market is expanding with sports betting as the main source of income for licensed operators. 

Spaniards have always been big fans of gambling. An estimated EUR 1.9 billion a year is spent on gambling – equal to around EUR 480 per head.

Various types of games from public lotteries to slot machines which are installed in many bars can be found in the country. Official casinos typically operate in bigger cities and tourist areas. Popular “salas de juegos” (gaming places) can be seen everywhere. In salas de juegos, different types of slot machines as well as electronic roulettes and video poker can be played. There are no cards games or other games where human croupiers are needed in salas de juegos.

Land based gambling

The traditional face-to-face gambling (casinos, bingo halls, game rooms) is regulated according to what is established in each Autonomous Community. Gambling locations are often part of a resort, restaurant, or other multi-purpose locations. The following land-based gambling activities are permitted in Spain

Resort casinos

There are 53 resort casinos in Spain. Casinos are usually specific-purpose locations which offer additional services as well (food, drinks, concerts, etc.). They have separate areas for the table games and areas especially dedicated to slot machines and other electronic games. Most Spanish casinos have the same rules. They manage table seating on first-come, first served basis and place individuals who want to play on waiting lists for poker seats during peak periods. The minimum entrance and gambling age is 18. There is usually an entry fee. A valid photo ID is required. The dress code is casual or business casual. Visitors can wear long jeans, a shirt or a polo, and classic shoes; no shorts, sandals, or T-shirts are allowed. The official currency is the Euro, but most of casinos accept main world currencies at appropriate exchange rates.

Game rooms

CIRSA has revolutionized the game room market in Spain with a new game room concept – TOKA brand. TOKA amusement arcades create a gaming and entertainment space to enjoy the full personal experience. All TOKA arcades are part of the same network. TOKA Game Room brand brings the casino experience into gaming rooms. Clients can play games like electronic bingo and electronic roulette, or place sports bets. TOKA FIDELITY is the loyalty club for TOKA arcades. TOKA FIDELITY members get exclusive advantages and enjoy special promotions, offers, and benefits.

Bingo halls

Bingo halls usually offer food and drinks. CIRKA bingo halls, for example, are modern, comfortable gaming spaces, where clients can find a wide variety of gambling products.

Slot Machines

Slot machines in Spain need not be installed in gambling venues and can be placed in bars, pubs, cafés, or restaurants not specializing in gambling activities.

Betting Shops

Sports-betting in betting shops was legalized in 2006. The first licensed betting outlets were opened at the beginning of 2008. Betting shops are authorized in all 17 autonomous communities in case they have corresponding licenses. Betting shops often offer food and drinks. The Spanish people are fanatical about sport, so betting on football, basketball, tennis, and horse racing is a huge business.

Sportium, the betting business operated by Cirsa, currently has more than 3,000 betting points of sale in operation across Spain, all of which are wholly dedicated to sports-betting. Sportium primarily focuses on the Spanish retail betting market and has become one of Spain’s leading sports betting destinations for retail and online consumers.

Lotteries

State Lotteries (Loterías y Apuestas del Estado), or LAE, and National Organization of Spanish Blind People (Organización Nacional de Ciegos Españoles), or ONCE, maintain the monopoly on lotteries offered at the federal level. Only charity organizations are allowed to organize lotteries in Spain. Lottery tickets can be acquired online and are sold at physical points of sale throughout Spain. LAE and ONCE are responsible for setting up their sales network. The sales network includes dedicated points of sale (businesses that are exclusively devoted to selling lottery games) and mixed points of sale (businesses that carry out other businesses and the selling of lottery games is additional to their main purpose). Spanish bars, cafés, restaurants, bookstores and tobacco shops are points of sale for lottery.

Online Gambling

Figures from Spain’s igaming regulator, La Dirección General de Ordenación del Juego (DGOJ), show sports-betting as the main source of income for licensed operators in the igaming market, with revenue EUR 100.8 million in Q1 2019 (compared to EUR 81.7 million in Q1 2018). Sports betting accounted for 52.2% of the total igaming market in the Q1 2019. Online poker revenue totaled EUR 21.5 million in Q1 2019, with cash games up to EUR 8.4 million and tournaments to over EUR 13 million.

Since June 1, 2012, only companies with a Spanish government-issued license and an .es domain have been allowed to run online gambling sites in Spain. Licenses issued by foreign countries are not valid in the country. Operators licensed in the European Economic Area member states must apply for a Spanish license. The Spanish authorities take action to ensure that gambling services cannot be offered by unlicensed offshore operators.

Gambling sites offer poker, slots, and a broad range of online casino games that gamblers like playing. With the Sportium online platform, players can bet on their favorite sports. Spain comes sixth in the list of EU countries in terms of gambling (after the UK, France, Switzerland, Germany, and the Netherlands) with around 3 million visits a year.