Spanish Casinos

The warm climate and the sea may render Spain a desirable tourist destination for millions of people around the world, but the residents’ relaxed attitude towards life extended to the country’s stand on gambling, with a number of brick-and-mortar and online casinos going unregulated for years. Yet, participating in different forms of gambling is a popular pastime among many Spanish residents as various reports suggest that players from the country collectively spend as much as €1.9 billion on betting per year.

• Spain’s Stance on Online Gambling
• Gambling Regulatory Bodies
• Taxes on Online Gambling in Spain
• The Future of Online Gambling

The financial crash of 2008 put an end to the unregulated market in the country and led to the enforcement of the so-called Spanish Gambling Act, with lawmakers adopting a stricter attitude towards all gambling activities that take place on Spanish soil. Since 2011, licensed Spanish online casinos have become a thing, with the Regulation of Gambling Activities (Direccion General de Ordenacion del Juego – DGOJ) being the body responsible for the regulation of this market. Licenses to Spanish online casino operators are also issued by the DGOJ.

Best Spanish-Friendly Casinos

To make your choice of a Spanish-friendly casino easier and more informed, we have compiled a list of the best virtual casino brands that cater to players based in Spain. These casinos make sure that players have the best gaming experience from the jumping-off point of their journeys, with generous welcome offers providing bountiful match bonuses. Meanwhile, recurring offers will help returning players make the most of their gaming experience as they play their favorite casino games.

Mobile compatibility, smooth payments, and great gaming diversity are just a few of the perks Spanish players can enjoy at any of the brands we have listed below. If you are wondering which brand to join, you can check the short reviews and concise casino information we have provided below.

Spain’s Legal Stance on Online Gambling

Gambling in brick-and-mortar venues has been legal on the territory of Spain for nearly forty years but the country did not enforce proper regulations on this market until recently. At the present moment, both online and offline gambling are legal and regulated on a national level but this was not always so. Games of skill became legal in 1977 while slot machines and other similar games that are based on luck were approved in 1981. It is fair to say the land-based gambling industry in the country is flourishing as there are over sixty licensed gambling venues and as many as seven racetracks across Spain at the present moment.

The thriving land-based gambling market has led to some changes being made to the Spanish legislation regarding interactive betting as well. In 2006, the country’s government officially enforced its first laws concerning interactive gambling, with online sports betting being the first form of gambling to be subjected to regulations. The government proceeded with setting up a special commission in 2010 in order to outline the guidelines on how a properly regulated interactive gambling sector should operate.

This led to the introduction of one very important piece of legislation, namely the 2011 Spanish Gambling Act. The latter was officially enforced in 2012 and all forms of online gambling in the country became legal. The Act allowed for a more holistic approach towards gambling regulations – the 17 autonomous communities in Spain oversee land-based betting activities while the central government in the capital, Madrid controls the gambling regulations on a national scale.

The autonomous communities are currently responsible for land-based operations only while interactive gambling activities, which take place over the internet and thus, transcend the country’s physical borders, are overseen by the state, in the face of the General Directorate for the Regulation of Gambling Activities. The Spanish Gambling Act also covers the promotion and sponsorship of gambling activities. Thus, foreign gambling operators that do not hold valid licenses from the local regulatory body are prohibited from advertising their services and products to Spanish residents. The advertisement and promotion of gambling activities on behalf of local media are also subjected to authorization from the government.

Spain’s Gambling Regulatory Body

In order to legally offer their services to residents of the country, foreign gambling operators need to apply for and receive a Spanish license from the local regulatory body. The governmental body that regulates the market and issues licenses to online gambling providers is called the General Directorate for the Regulation of Gambling Activities and operates as a part of the Ministry of Finance and Public Administration. In addition to market supervision, this institution is also responsible for managing various gambling records and penalizing unauthorized gambling activities on the territory of Spain. Gambling providers that operate in violation with the guidelines of the General Directorate risk having their licenses revoked.

The General Directorate grants three types of licenses – general ones, single-game ones, and permits which are valid for brief periods of time. The licenses and regulations cover fixed-odds sports betting and horse racing, mutual sports betting, exchange betting, bingo, slots, baccarat, blackjack, roulette, and poker. The licenses are not transferable and the period they are valid for depends on their type. For example, the general licenses expire after ten years while single-game licenses are valid for a shorter period of time, ranging from one to five years. The General Directorate also issues permits for occasional, i.e. one-time gambling activities.

The foreign gambling operators need to comply with several requirements set forth by the General Directorate. For instance, one of the conditions is for the operators’ gambling central units or servers to be located within the country’s borders so that Spanish authorities can adequately monitor them. Additionally, the license applicants are expected to submit an operation plan that includes the results of the full tests their gambling software has undergone.

Some of the biggest names in the online casino industry have already entered the Spanish market and run websites via the .es domain. These include popular, reliable and highly respected online gambling operators the likes of William Hill, bet365, partypoker, PokerStars, and 888casino, among others. Poker fans from Spain are enabled to partake in a variety of online tournaments and cash games with flexible stakes ranges. Furthermore, it is possible to choose from a wide range of secure payment options that are suitable for players from Spain, including convenient options like e-wallets, prepaid vouchers, credit/debit cards, and internet banking.

Spanish players also get the chance to deposit in their own currency as all licensed gambling operators have adopted the EUR, preventing their customers from incurring additional currency conversion fees. Also, players who are not fluent enough in English will hardly experience any difficulties with processing payments, managing their accounts or claiming bonuses since many online gambling operators list Spanish among the languages supported by their websites.

Taxes on Online Gambling in Spain

Obtaining a gambling license for operation within the borders of Spain implies the payment of taxes on behalf of the licensees. As was mentioned earlier, the taxes in Spain are rather hefty. All licensed online gambling operators are expected to contribute 25% of their gross revenue. There is also a corporation tax which is generally around 30% but can drop as low as 20% – it all depends on how big the company is. Meanwhile, gambling operators that violate the guidelines set forth by the General Directorate by offering their services to Spanish residents without a license risk incurring even heftier fees of up to €50 million.

The weird thing when it comes to Spain is that taxes are imposed on the winnings of Spanish players as well, which is not the case in most European countries where online gambling is legal and regulated. Players who declare gambling as their official source of income are required to pay a 20% tax on their lottery or betting profits, provided that the latter exceed the amount of €2,500. On the bright side, Spanish players are allowed to deduct their losses from their profits.

The Future of Online Gambling in Spain

Despite the fact both gambling operators and Spanish players are dissatisfied with the imposing taxes they are expected to pay, the online gambling industry in the country is thriving. Various reports published by the General Directorate for the Regulation of Gambling Activities indicate that the Spanish gambling market has been on the rise in the past few years, with profits from this sector reaching an all-time high in 2016.

There was a significant increase in revenue from sports betting and virtual casino games. Online poker, on the other hand, is not doing that well since there was a drop in the overall amount Spanish players have wagered for the same period. This decrease in online poker revenue in Spain can be attributed to the policy of the country’s regulatory body of segregating Spanish players by allowing them to be seated at online poker tables with other players from the country only, which renders it difficult for this particular market to grow. This also causes Spanish poker fans to resort to playing at unlicensed poker websites which further reduces the country’s revenue from this sector of the gambling industry.

Despite that, the legal changes enforced by the Spanish government in recent years have allowed for significant market growth, providing players from the country with a greater number of licensed (and therefore reliable) online gambling websites to choose from. Yet, lowering the taxes imposed on licensed operators most definitely would have a positive effect on the Spanish gambling market’s further growth.

FAQ

Deposit Methods

Handling one’s casein bankroll is an important element that can make or break the overall online gaming experience for Spanish players. Any reputable casino that has been licensed by the Spanish authorities supports EUR, enabling easy and smooth payments for players who use their local currency.

While the availability of some methods ranges between different casinos, there are several options that are extremely popular with Spanish players. Below, we have compiled a list of deposit solutions that are often supported at regulated Spanish online casinos, offering fast, easy, and safe transactions.

Bank Cards

Not only are credit/debit cards one of the most widely used payment options on a global scale, but they are also often supported as a deposit option at most Spanish online casinos. The convenience of this solution allows Spanish players to instantly top up their gaming accounts, with no fees being applied to this type of transaction. The deposit limits for this method may differ, depending on the respective casino’s banking policy. That said, the least deposit amount card payments usually require is around €10.

Both Visa and Mastercard-branded cards can be seen in the Deposit section of most Spanish online casinos. Conveniently enough, the majority of gaming brands will also allow you to withdraw your winnings to the credit/debit card you have used for your deposits. Keep in mind, however, that card withdrawals may not be as fast as deposits, with usual processing time taking between 1 and 3 business days.

We believe using a credit/debit card for your casino payments is a secure way to handle your Spanish casino bankroll, but if you do not like the fact that you need to expose your card details, you may want to explore different payment options.

E-wallets

A very convenient way to manage your casino payments as a Spanish online player is resorting to the service of a digital wallet company. Options like Skrill, Neteller, and PayPal are commonly accepted at Spanish online casinos, enabling a secure way to handle your deposit instantly, without exposing any type of sensitive information during the payment process.

Utilizing an e-wallet for your casino deposits is extremely convenient, allowing players to quickly set up their wallets and upload the funds they need for their online casino endeavors. In most cases, e-wallet deposits qualify players for different casino promotions, allowing them to add extra excitement to their gaming experiences.

Conveniently enough, e-wallets are usually supported as a withdrawal option, too, making handling one’s bankroll extremely easy. Due to the nature of the transaction, e-wallet withdrawals cannot be instant just like deposits. That said, once the casino approves the payout request, e-wallets often allow players to enjoy their winnings in the next 24 hours.

Apple Pay

Another deposit option you may use at quite a few Spanish online casinos is Apple Pay, which is a wallet app available on most iOS devices. It allows its users to easily handle their online and offline payments, without exposing any type of banking information during the processing of the transactions.

Casino deposits via Apple Pay are processed instantly, allowing players to enjoy their favorite games right away. What is more, the majority of online casinos catering to Spanish players will not charge any fees on payments carried out via the Apple Pay system. Since this method incorporates different security measures, it enables safe casino transactions that allow players to keep their personal and financial information protected.

In most cases, if you have made your casino deposits via Apple Pay, you will also be able to withdraw your winnings to your Apple Pay account. The process is easy, fast, and very secure, often enabling one of the fastest ways to receive your casino winnings.

Prepaid Cards

A great alternative for those who do not feel like providing bank details, opening accounts with different services, or setting up e-wallets is using a prepaid card. This deposit option is available at most Spanish-friendly casinos, allowing players to manage their bankrolls in an extremely convenient way.

One popular solution for prepaid card deposits is Paysafecard, enabling instant deposits for anyone who has purchased a Paysafecard voucher. While there are many participating retail shops where you can purchase your Paysafecard, you can also obtain your prepaid card PIN online, paying for the purchase via different payment methods.

Since you will not expose any type of sensitive information during your prepaid card deposits, this method is considered one of the safest options for topping your account at any Spanish online casino. The one downfall of the method is that it cannot be used for withdrawals, requiring the use of another option for your casino payouts.

Instant Banking and Bank Transfers

Despite the different payment solutions available to Spanish casino players, many prefer to stick to the services of the banks they know and trust. That is why, many players can resort to regular bank transfers of an instant banking service linked to their bank accounts. One thing about bank transfers you must keep in mind is that it is not the fastest way to handle your casino payments. Both deposits and withdrawals can be significantly slower compared to other payment options supported by Spanish online casinos. What is more, to initiate a payment, you will need to expose your bank account details, which may not appeal to some players.

Instant banking services like Sofort are definitely more convenient payment options as they act as a mediator between the virtual casino and your online banking account. That means that players do not need to expose any type of banking information but they can still use their bank accounts to instantly top up their casino balances. Meanwhile, such a service may also be supported as a withdrawal option, enabling an extremely fast and secure way to receive your casino winnings.

Popular Games and Live Dealers

To keep every type of player entertained, Spanish online casinos tend to offer huge gaming diversity that anyone can enjoy. Thanks to software solutions of juggernauts like NetEnt, Microgaming, Evolution Gaming, Play’n GO, Pragmatic Play, and many more, Spanish online casinos are capable of providing a top-notch casino experience for every gaming fan.

From classic slots to live-dealer table games and game shows, Spanish players will have a wide selection of games to choose from. That ensures a fair, fun, and hopefully rewarding gaming experience for anyone who decides to play online.

If you are a fan of slots, you will be glad to know that the majority of Spanish online casinos have made sure that they feature the most popular slots as well as some of the newest titles on the market. Classic three-reel slots, fruit slots, and innovative video slots are all available to play at any reputable Spanish online casino. Several favorites we would like to list include Book of Dead, Immortal Romance, Dead or Alive, and many more.

While slots can be a great source of entertainment, casino aficionados can also switch up things by playing classic table games. Roulette options include all popular variations, allowing players to pick from European Roulette, American Roulette, and French Roulette. If card games like blackjack, baccarat, and poker are your cup of tea, you can explore the vast variety of options you can find online. Some of the titles featured at most Spanish online casinos include European Blackjack, Classic Blackjack, Casino Hold’em Poker, and plenty of other options one could enjoy.

To diversify one’s gaming experience, some Spanish online casinos have also added video poker options to their lists of offerings. That way, Spanish players can enjoy popular variations like Jacks or Better, Tens or Better, Joker Poker, and more.

While RNG-based games can offer a great source of fun to Spanish players, those who wish to dive into a more authentic casino experience can try some of the best Live Casino games available on the web. With providers like Playtech, Evolution Gaming, and Pragmatic Play, Spanish players can join different live tables and enjoy games like ONE Blackjack, Lightning Roulette, Casino Hold’em, and Baccarat. Live game shows will also be at one’s disposal, allowing players to revel in a thrilling experience with Live Monopoly, Dream Catcher, Buffalo Blitz Live, and many more.