Spain Sees Surge in Online Gambling Despite Strict Regulations

New figures published by Spain’s Ministry of Social Rights, Consumer Affairs, and 2030 Agenda reveal a steep increase in online gambling activity in the country, prompting alarm from regulators and public health experts. The report, created by the Directorate General for the Regulation of Gambling (DGOJ) and validated by the Responsible Gambling Advisory Council in July, details an alarming 21.63% growth in active online gamblers over the last year.

Aggressive Bonuses Drew in More Consumers

According to the report, this sudden increase correlates with the resurgence of “welcome bonuses,” marketing tools previously curbed under Spain’s 2020 Royal Decree on gambling advertising. The findings come despite earlier optimism that Spain’s strict restrictions on gambling ads and promotional bonuses had reduced problem gambling behavior.

A study published by the Harm Reduction Journal in 2023 credited the Royal Decree with a 55% drop in newly opened gambling accounts between 2020 and 2023. However, with the recent resurgence in bonus-driven promotions, those gains appear to be slipping. In 2024, the monthly average active accounts increased by 23.48% to 1.43 million. New account registrations also spiked, averaging 151,898 per month, an increase of 34.73%.

For the first time, the yearly report incorporated data from Spain’s regional governments, providing more details on regional gambling trends. The Ministry of Consumer Affairs views this collaboration as a significant milestone in transparency and oversight. Such detailed information should help the government understand the gambling sector’s footprint across the country and create more effective regulations.

The Gambling Sector Is Booming

Increasing participation equated to record profits for Spanish gambling operators. In 2024, the gambling industry recorded EUR 8.1 billion ($9.38 billion) in gross gaming revenue. Online casinos accounted for EUR 730.7 million ($845.7 million), and sports betting accounted for EUR 608.85 million ($704.7 million). Poker, which has previously been a significant driver of online gaming, accounted for only EUR 100 million ($115.7 million). 

The return of online betting has been particularly significant. Driven by live sports and traditional betting, revenues expanded 23.8%, the most notable rise across all segments. As revenue increased, so did operator spending. Gambling firms spent more than EUR 526 million ($608.7 million)  on marketing in 2024. Promotions accounted for EUR 261 million ($302 million), while another EUR 203 million ($234.9 million) was invested in advertising. 

After years of attempting to curtail gambling’s societal harms, the Ministry sees this data as an indicator of potential issues. Even as advertising bans remain in place, the appeal of digital promotions and aggressive marketing has proven difficult to contain. As gambling deposits increase and more Spaniards play online, the nation seeks new measures to protect consumers without disrupting a highly lucrative industry.