Online Gambling Regulations in Spain

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Published: July 6, 2020
Updated: May 7, 2026

Online gambling is something enjoyed by so many that it seems to be causing struggles for some countries in regulating it properly. Still, more and more of them are moving to legalise online casinos and provide players with a safe and protected environment for gambling.

That’s no surprise, considering how quickly online gambling has become one of the most beloved pastimes for so many across the globe.

Online gambling regulations in Spain — Gambling regulations and laws in Spain

It’s fun, it’s instant, and it can be done from the comfort of your couch, as long as you have a solid internet connection. That's why it's now more than ever possible to enjoy top EU casinos online.

The good news for Spanish players is that the government is completely pro-gambling. Let’s take a look at the history and laws on gambling in Spain, as well as the most recent changes in the laws and regulations regarding online gambling.

History and laws on gambling in Spain

The Spanish are known for their love of gambling. In fact, most forms of it have been legal in Spain since 1977. From the start, gambling was considered a legal activity in Spain.

However, it was only in 2011, when online gambling regulation entered the scene and the landscape changed forever with the implementation of the Spanish Gambling Act. Before the Act was put in place, the country’s 17 sovereign communities were all in charge of their own betting laws:

Andalusia, Aragon, Asturias, the Balearic Islands, the Basque Country, the Canary Islands, Cantabria, Castile, ÄìLa Mancha, Castile and Leon, Catalonia, Extremadura, Galicia, La Rioja, Madrid, Murcia, Navarre and Valencia.

These independent communities had the power to legislate over any and all forms of gambling.

The Spanish Gambling Act was not brought in as a means to take away power from the independent parties, but rather as a way of creating harmony and implementing a communal law on gambling. According to the higher authorities, gambling was quickly becoming a matter that had to be dealt with on a national rather than regional level.

The act regulates all forms of gambling taking place online and on land. It also serves as a regulator of all lottery operators, such as the LAE and the ONCE. Basically, any form of gambling advertisement is only legal and allowed if it has been processed and put through the authorisation process.

According to the Act, all operators who wish to provide their services to Spanish citizens have to obtain a licence from the country’s Dirección General de Ordenación del Juego (DGOJ). There are two types of licences in the country: a general one valid for 10 years and a singular licence, e.g., for one casino game, that goes up to 5, depending on the title.

The licensing process is quite rigorous, as operators must first obtain a general licence from the Spanish authorities. This is followed by another licensing process in which the operator must apply for a specific licence for the type of betting services it wants to offer.

The specific licences include mutual sports betting, fixed sports betting, fixed-odds horse racing betting, contests, Roulette, Baccarat, Blackjack, Slots, and Poker, to name a few.

The interesting thing is that most specific licences are valid for 5 years. However, ones for Blackjack, Baccarat, Roulette and fixed-odds horse betting are valid for only 3. Also, as it stands, fantasy betting and social games without cash prizes are currently not regulated by the law.

Even applying for a licence, let alone getting one, has operators jumping through all sorts of hoops. They have to meet stringent requirements, such as providing financial guarantees, often up to €2,000,000, paying licensing fees of around €50,000, and answering to technical obligations, e.g., running their site under a .es domain.

Another thing the Spanish government seems to be getting right is curbing illegal casinos and platforms. In the second half of 2024 alone, the DGOJ penalised and shut down 14 foreign operators offering their services to local players without a licence. They were also banned from operating for at least two years.

Those who have chosen to ignore the laws and continue unlawfully providing their services to Spanish citizens are hunted down and are facing legal action. The DGOJ is very serious about regulating the market, and breaching these laws could result in a fine of between €1,000,000 and €50,000,000 for unlicensed platforms.

In 2024, the total amount of fines imposed by the Spanish authorities reached €142 million, a large part of which was made up of penalties issued to unlicensed or unlawful platforms.

Are gambling winnings taxed in Spain?

Yes, gambling winnings in Spain are taxable.

One of the less fun things about gambling online is wondering about whether or not you have to declare your gambling winnings or even pay tax on them. Unfortunately for avid Spanish gamblers, the law states that all tax winnings have to be declared as income.

Players who have lottery winnings exceeding €40,000 are required to pay 20% tax. However, the first €40,000 is tax-free, meaning if you win €60,000, only €20,000 will be taxed. The upside is that the government has made allowance for players to deduct their losses from their winnings.

Thus, if you are a Spanish citizen, you are required by law to declare all gambling winnings as taxable income, but you will be allowed to deduct losses from those wins.

Operators, on the other hand, have been suffering from hefty tax payments of 20% per year on their gross gaming revenue. Luckily, in more recent talks, the government has cut the tax from 25% to 20% for licensed companies. That amount is as low as 10% in the Ceuta or Melilla regions.

This move is purely business, as the online gambling market within the country is blossoming and rapidly growing. In an effort to attract more operators to offer their services within the country, the government is willing to cut taxes.

Is online gambling legal in Spain?

Online gambling has been fully legal in Spain since 2011, but there are strict rules and regulations in place to ensure players are only offered services from licensed operators. Besides market regulation, the DGOJ has placed player protection and playing responsibly as the utmost priority for its efforts.

Spaniards have a variety of safe play tools at their disposal, such as a national self-exclusion service and play limits with daily, weekly, and monthly amounts.

In March 2026, the DGOJ published a safe gambling program spanning through 2030. It seeks to improve player protection and prevent any gambling harm, especially in vulnerable groups of people.

A key focus of the program is assessing how social media influences players, particularly those below 25 years old, and contributes to gambling exposure and normalisation. The new strategy looks to move beyond ideas and into action with a broader and more accessible safe gambling model.

The changes have been rolling. The government has also launched the ‘Stop Juego‘ (Stop Gambling) app to block gambling across different devices. That way, users can sign up for self-exclusion with the General Registry of Gambling Access Bans (RGIAJ) through a simplified digital process via the app entirely.

Operators were also informed that a new AI-integrated regulatory model is in the works. The algorithm will intervene if any problem gambling behaviour or risk is detected and guide players to help tools and measures.

Other measures are also in the works, such as a ‘universal deposit limit’ system for Spanish gambling licences and re-introducing welcome bonuses restrictions, but nothing has been set in stone yet.

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Technically, playing is only allowed at DGOJ-licensed platforms. As you now know, the government is hellbent on pursuing offenders and penalising them with the full extent of the law.

However, if you, as a player, are gambling at a site that isn’t licensed in Spain itself, you don’t need to worry. The government does not punish individuals for this, but keep in mind that the site could shut down if it is caught, and you can lose access to your account and winnings that way.

To protect your account and bankroll, we recommend you choose one of the 77 licensed operators in the country for your peace of mind. Still, if your eyes are set on an offshore platform, make sure you choose a vetted site, so that you're on the safe side of the law.

To ensure that you get access to only the top online casinos legally licensed in Spain, take a look at our list of pre-selected top 5 online casinos. Each of these casinos has been vetted and reviewed to ensure it is safe and secure while offering the best in services, gaming variety and rewards.