Spain gambling statistics: participation, regulation, and industry data

Spain has one of Europe's most developed regulated gambling markets, with a distinctive split between state-controlled lotteries, regionally licensed land-based gambling, and a nationally licensed online sector. Total gross gaming revenue exceeded €8 billion in 2024, with online gambling growing 17.6% year-on-year to reach a record €1.45 billion. The market is regulated by the Dirección General de Ordenación del Juego (DGOJ), which oversees online gambling at the national level, while Spain's 17 autonomous communities regulate land-based activity. This page draws on DGOJ annual reports and National Plan on Drugs data. For a broader view, see our statistics hub.

How many people gamble in Spain?

According to the National Plan on Drugs (2022), 58.1% of Spanish adults gambled at least once during 2022. This figure includes the large lottery-playing population; when lotteries are excluded, participation rates are substantially lower. Among young people aged 15–24, 24% gambled offline and 6.5% gambled online in 2022 (National Plan on Drugs, 2022). There were nearly 2 million active online gambling accounts in 2024, with an average of 151,898 new accounts opening per month — a 34.7% increase in new registrations year-on-year (DGOJ, 2025).

Problem gambling in Spain

National-level prevalence data for Spain is limited. The DGOJ and Ministry of Consumer Affairs have cited a problem gambling prevalence of approximately 0.3% of the adult population (DGOJ, 2023). However, this figure has been questioned as potentially underestimating the true prevalence. A 2024 peer-reviewed study (Secades-Villa et al., 2024, International Gambling Studies) found higher rates using DSM-5 criteria in a national sample, though the full results require journal access. A 2023–2024 cross-sectional study of Spanish 16–25-year-olds found a problem gambling rate of 3.5% using the PGSI (López-Del-Hoyo et al., 2025).

The DGOJ's General Register of Gambling Access Bans (RGIAJ) is Spain's national self-exclusion system, covering both online and land-based gambling. Self-exclusion registrations were reported to be rising, with Q1 2025 registrations up 10% (industry estimates, 2025). The DGOJ has launched a new Safe Gambling Programme 2026–2030, replacing the previous Responsible Gambling initiative, with a focus on social media influence, AI-driven product design, and youth gambling exposure. If you're unsure whether your own gambling habits have become problematic, a PGSI self-assessment is a useful first step.

Treatment and help-seeking

Spain's treatment system for gambling disorder (ludopatía) is delivered through regional addiction services (Centros de Atención a las Drogodependencias / centros de adicciones). The DGOJ operates the RGIAJ national self-exclusion register and a Phishing Alert service. The national drug and addiction helpline (Teléfono de la Esperanza: 717 003 717) covers gambling alongside substance abuse, and Jugadores Anónimos (Gamblers Anonymous Spain) operates groups across the country. The DGOJ allocated €1 million in 2025 for a dedicated research grant scheme on gambling harm.

Spain gambling regulation

Spain's gambling market operates under a dual regulatory structure. The DGOJ, part of the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, regulates all online gambling nationally under Law 13/2011 (Ley de Regulación del Juego). Spain's 17 autonomous communities separately regulate land-based gambling — including betting shops, gaming salons, bingo halls, and casinos — within their territories. State lotteries are reserved for SELAE (state-owned) and ONCE (charity), with private operators excluded from lottery products.

Online operators pay a 20% tax on GGR under the Gambling Act, plus an annual levy of 0.75 per thousand of gross operating revenue. The DGOJ processes licence applications and has significant enforcement power: in H2 2024 alone, it imposed €77.4 million in fines on unlicensed operators, bringing the year's total to over €142 million (DGOJ, 2025). A centralised cross-operator deposit limit system, planned for 2026, will cap player deposits at €600 daily / €1,500 weekly across all licensed operators simultaneously.

Online gambling in Spain

Spain's regulated online gambling market is one of the fastest-growing in Europe. In 2024, online GGR reached €1,454.59 million, a 17.6% increase, with nearly 2 million active accounts and 1.83 million new accounts opened during the year — a 34.7% increase in new registrations (DGOJ, 2025). Deposits grew 19.6% to €4.58 billion, and withdrawals rose 19.7% to €3.15 billion. Q1 2025 maintained momentum at €398.1 million GGR (+13.7% year-on-year), with casino slots growing 42.1% in that quarter alone.

The 2024 Supreme Court ruling that voided parts of Royal Decree 958/2020 triggered a sharp rebound in marketing activity. Operator marketing spend surged 40.9% year-on-year in Q3 2024, and new account registrations accelerated. The Ministry of Consumer Affairs has signalled its intention to re-impose advertising restrictions via new legislation, and the DGOJ is studying the impact of social media marketing on younger demographics.

Young people and gambling

Youth gambling exposure is a growing concern in Spain. The National Plan on Drugs (2022) found that 24% of Spaniards aged 15–24 gambled offline and 6.5% gambled online. A 2023–2024 cross-sectional study of 617 participants aged 16–25 in Aragon found that nearly 60% had gambled, with 3.5% classified as problem gamblers on the PGSI (López-Del-Hoyo et al., 2025). Research has highlighted the concentration of betting shops near secondary schools in disadvantaged areas, influencer-driven gambling promotion on social media, and the rising use of tipsters among young sports bettors.

The legal gambling age in Spain is 18 for all activities. The DGOJ's new Safe Gambling Programme 2026–2030 identifies young players (18–25) as a priority population and will assess the influence of social media, AI-driven marketing, and video game-adjacent gambling products on youth gambling behaviour.

Gambling harm and support

Gambling-related harm in Spain encompasses financial distress, relationship breakdown, mental health difficulties, and links to substance misuse. The DGOJ's enforcement against unlicensed operators (€142+ million in fines in 2024) reflects the scale of the challenge from offshore sites that lack consumer protections. The planned centralised deposit limit system (2026) represents one of Europe's most ambitious harm-reduction measures, preventing players from circumventing limits by spreading deposits across operators.

Support services include the RGIAJ national self-exclusion register (covering online and land-based gambling), regional addiction treatment centres (centros de adicciones), Jugadores Anónimos (Gamblers Anonymous Spain), and the national addiction helpline (717 003 717). The DGOJ has invested €1 million in dedicated gambling research grants for 2025 and mandates that all gambling advertising now carry addiction-style health warnings.

Spain's gambling market reflects a distinctive European model where state lotteries still dominate by revenue, but a dynamic and fast-growing online sector is reshaping the landscape. With the DGOJ's new Safe Gambling Programme 2026–2030 and Europe's most ambitious centralised deposit limit system on the horizon, Spain continues to be at the forefront of regulatory innovation in the balance between market growth and consumer protection.