Best Online Casinos in Spain

Introduction: Review of the best online casinos in Spain

The most important companies in this sector in Europe are represented in Spain, but several Spanish operators have also taken a step forward, either starting from scratch or moving from physical gambling to the online sphere.

But before choosing a casino site in Spain, we should also have clear concepts, such as factors to evaluate when deciding on one or the other, such as security, the different games offered by online casinos, etc. Read on to learn more.

Top 5 best casino sites in Spain

1. 888 Casino - 100% Welcome bonus up to C$100 + 88 free spins;
2. William Hiil Casino - 100% Welcome bonus up to C$200 + 50 free spins;
3. Casumo Casino - 100% Welcome bonus up to C$100 + 20 free spins;
4. Betway Casino - Welcome bonus 100% Match Bonus up to £50 on your first deposit;
5. FastPay Casino - 175% Welcome bonus up to C$150 + 100 free spins.

Want to know what online casinos in Spain the biggest bonuses and regular promotions with free spins? We recommend to see the top casino online in Spain on our review page, it is published specifically for Spanish gamblers.

How to choose the best casino site in Spain

Having so many options can sometimes be problematic, as players often don't know which casino site in Spain to choose. While there are some great legitimate casinos out there, there are some fantastic international sites that can be accessed via VPN, as well as some scams. With that in mind, here's what Spanish players should consider when looking for a casino site in Spain.

Official license and safety for Spanish players

The first thing you should clearly understand is that casinos require a gaming license in Spain to operate in our country. Otherwise, you are risking your money as you have no guarantees.

Having a license to operate in Spain is the best indicator of gambling safety, as Spanish law will protect you from fraud, cheating or any unfair practices on the part of the casino. Only in a licensed casino will you play under the same conditions as other players, and the neutrality of the game is guaranteed.

One of the requirements for obtaining a gaming license in Spain is the use of a random number generator in the casino, a system that guarantees the impartiality of the game. This is a system verified by specialized companies independent of the casino. Finally, make sure that you use secure connections whose URL begins with https: and not with http.

With this first criterion we can exclude online casinos with questionable reputations that should not work in Spain, but we still have dozens of casinos to choose from.

Large range of games and slots

If you prefer roulette or blackjack, as many Spanish players do, you should choose a casino that offers us different versions of these games. If you enjoy playing different casino games, you may be better off sacrificing the versions of some in search of a wider variety. It depends on each person's tastes, but in general, the more the better.

Different methods of payment and withdrawal

When choosing a casino site in Spain, you should also pay attention to the payment methods and customer service it offers. The more options they have for depositing and withdrawing, the better. Also, make sure that the casino has e-wallets, as they are the most popular banking method for online gambling.

Customer Service

Regarding customer service on Spanish casino sites, it should ideally be available 24 hours a day and be fast, by various means (chat, phone, email) and free (toll-free 800 or 900 number). If the casino doesn't have 24-hour attention, make sure it offers it during the hours you usually play. when you can tolerate an incident.

Mobile casino app

You can play from your cell phone or tablet thanks to casino apps. And if the casino site in Spain does not have a mobile app, it will certainly offer us a mobile version of the page to play from anywhere.

It goes without saying that we log into the casino app with the same username and password that we use from our computer. We have the same security and can make deposits or request withdrawals without having to be in front of a computer.

Bonuses and promotions on Spanish casino sites

Finally, we have to look at the bonuses offered by online casinos, from welcome bonuses to loyalty bonuses, daily or weekly promotions, tournaments, refunds, etc.

Sometimes we get carried away with a big welcome bonus when, because of our play style, it would be better to choose a lower bonus that is offset by loyalty bonuses, VIP club, etc.

How to play online in Spain

Spanish players who want to start playing at an online casino can do so with ease and without any worries. The whole process takes less than half an hour and you are ready to play. These are the basic steps.

Creating an account at Spanish casino sites

First, you must choose a reliable casino site in Spain to create your account. Always remember to provide the correct information when creating your account. as this is very important for the verification that is done later so that you can withdraw your money safely and without problems. This way, you can be sure that everything will go smoothly, your data will always be confidential, and you can enjoy your game with no worries.

First Deposit

Once you have created an account and verified it, you can start depositing money. Remember, it's always a good idea to start with a moderate amount of money before risking more. The banking option will be up to you - choose the one that best fits your needs and capabilities. Just make sure it's quick and safe.

Getting Started

Once you've created an account and made a deposit, it's time to play online casino games and make money.

Welcome Bonuses

As required by Spanish law, bonuses and promotions will be available 30 days after an account is created. Asking for bonuses and promotions when they appear is very important because it can lead to good winnings with little or no investment.

Most popular online casino games in Spain

Six of the fourteen regulated games in Spain belong to what we might consider casino games. They are slot machines (the technique of defining slot machines or slots), blackjack, bingo, punto y banka, poker and roulette.

Of course, there are operators who can offer some of these games individually, and so it is very important to find casino sites in Spain with great options. In any case, these are the only games that working casinos in Spain can offer.

Online gambling in Spain

Spain, unlike other European (€) casino sites and beyond, welcomes online gambling activities. But operators can do whatever they want, not for free, the government diligently regulates the industry, as you would expect. For example, they take a firm stance on underage gambling.

If you want to play at online casinos in Spain, you must prove that you are of legal age before you can create an account and start making deposits. Once a player has verified their identity and is legally allowed to play online, they can enjoy spinning the slots reels and playing table classics.

In addition to the fact that you can always find a casino site that suits you, there are many payment methods approved in Spain for use on online gaming platforms. Which again makes everything inclusive and accessible. This is one of the reasons why the country is at the top of the industry.

Slot Machines

Slot machines, or slot machines, are one of the main attractions of any Spanish casino. A classic that has been found in bars and game rooms for decades now has an online version. Any provider offers a wide catalog of slots, so in our favorite Spanish online casino we will have hundreds of slot machines online with a wide range of themes: mythology, sports, music, movies and TV, celebrities, Romans, Egyptians, gems, adventure, wild west and so on. In addition, we find jackpot slots that attract most Spanish players because of the high payouts.

BlackJack

Among the card games that we can find in any online casino, blackjack online is the most common in Spain. The mechanics are simple: add 21 points with our cards. or at least beat the dealer without exceeding 21. But this is not the only game we find, variants like baccarat or pontoon have similar mechanics to blackjack, and are quite common in Spain's main online casinos.

Roulette

Roulette is a classic of any Spanish casino and should not be absent from the online casino of your choice. Roulette online has three classic modalities (European, French and American or double zero), but in the online casino world we also find lightning or quantum roulette with its multipliers that allow you to win higher prizes. As if that weren't enough, we have the excitement of live roulette, which transports us to a physical casino with the comfort of playing from anywhere without the rules of etiquette. Spanish players who have been to regular casinos before clearly prefer live roulette.

Poker

Finally, the king of card games. It is not uncommon to find online real money poker rooms and tournaments on many online casino sites in Spain. In fact, we find specialized poker casinos that allow us to enjoy the game to the fullest. Texas Hold'em is the variety prevalent in the online casino world and is one of the most dynamic games in which we combine luck with our mental ability and psychological strength. There are also operators that offer us video poker, similar to slots, which are not as popular in Spain as live poker rooms.

Spanish gambling slang

There are a lot of interesting words in the Spanish language. If you haven't heard their slang for gambling, here are a few options.

• Jugar - in English, it means to gamble. Use this word when you are ready to join the game;
• Apostar - you use it to say it to announce a bet. In fact, that's what it would mean if you were to translate it.

What are the types of bets in Spanish online casinos?

Because sports betting is incredibly popular in Spain (Spain is one of the countries that dominates various sports), it is an integral part of online casino sites in Spain. Many online casinos offer great odds and markets on sports, as well as different types of bets. The most popular options in Spain are as follows.

Simple Bet

It consists of selecting a winner and the amount you are going to invest. The bet amount is multiplied by the betting odds (50 euros on a Real Madrid victory over Barcelona).

Combination bet

As the name suggests, there are several combination bets that set a quota that multiplies your investment. Most bookmakers, such as bet365, but also casino sites in Spain allow combos.

Live Betting

Live betting is always popular with Spanish players, as the excitement of watching a game live and betting on it is something quite unique.

Long term bets

For example, when the winner of the tournament is predicted in advance (before the start of the season betting that BC Barcelona will win the title).

Betting systems

It is similar to the combined one. It goes from 3 predictions to 8, which is the maximum, and not every game has to be predicted correctly. This lowers the winning price, but increases the odds of winning.

Custom Bets

With these bets, Spanish players can create their own bet or have the bookmaker offer them a specific bet. In this way, a player can make bets designed by himself that are not available in the regular markets of his bookmaker's office. To summarize, individual bets are created or formulated by the players themselves.

Odds, margins and lines in online gambling in Spain

The online gambling market in Spain offers many options for all tastes. From places where you can bet on sports or other ways such as visiting a casino without getting out of your chair. Playing poker or bingo online is also possible in Spain and regulated by law. Finally, tournaments may also appear, although this is the type of game that is least appealing in Spain.

In turn, there are different types in each segment, such as casinos, which include everything from roulette to slot machines. Which casino games are the most popular in Spain can also be seen by the number of bets, which is the amount of bets on online games in 2025.

• Live sports betting - €4,755,839;
• Slot machines - €3,443,901;
• Live Roulette - €2,176,555;
• Regular Sports Betting - €2,012,051;
• Roulette - €1,484,513;
• Cash Poker - €1,207,009;
• Black Jack - €1,109,163;
• Poker Tournaments - €842,518;
• Bingo - €99,276;
• Horseback riding - €96,583;
• Other Stakes - €51,572;
• Punto y Banca - €0,462;
• Mutual Sports - €0.03.

Annual measurements in Spain have been suspended for a while, but in 2022 the numbers will remain more or less the same.

Regular and direct odds for sports betting in Spain

Fixed odds sports betting is a bet in which a participant bets against the operator of the game, being entitled to win if the prediction they are betting on is received. This type of bet is divided into regular and straight bets, and these two bets are some of the most popular bets in Spain.

In order for a bet to be classified as a regular bet, the bet must be placed before the sporting event begins. It will be a straight bet when the celebration of the event has begun and the bet is placed during the event. As an example of a regular bet: there is a sporting event tonight that starts at 9 o'clock and the user places his bet before that time. Once the game starts, in case the user makes a bet, it will be identified as a live bet.

Bingo and contests

The amount played in September 2019 for bingo amounted to 7.76 million euros, and for contests - 87.233 thousand euros. The amount of bingo bets represents an interannual variation of 6.46% and a monthly variation of -5.07%. As for the competition variation, it was 59.06% compared to the same month last year and -74.68%.

As for gambling margins, they had an interannual variation of 10.86% and -6.33% for bingo in September 2019 compared to last month. For contests, the gambling margin varied 61.74% from the same period last year and the monthly variation was -80.99%.

Best bonuses, free spins and promotions at Spanish online casino sites

Before talking about online casino bonuses, it should be noted that access to online casino bonuses in Spain is limited to users who have been registered with the casino for 30 days and have confirmed an account. Fulfilling these two requirements is necessary to access the various casino promotions in Spain that allow us to receive bonuses and free spins at the casino.

If you meet these three requirements, you will be able to access offers such as loyalty bonuses or top-up bonuses that online casino sites in Spain use to encourage us to top up our balance. Spanish players will also be eligible for daily, weekly or monthly bonuses from promotions such as cashbacks. You can participate in promotions such as slot machine races, which also allow us to receive bonuses or free spins. The last type of bonus that you will have access to are referral bonuses, which are offered for recommending a casino to a friend.

To elaborate, there are various casino bonuses available in Spain. Let's take a look at what they are and how each one works.

Welcome Bonus

The welcome bonus is an exclusive casino bonus for new users. If you don't have an account yet, or if you already have an account but haven't deposited into your online casino account, you can still take advantage of the welcome bonus (after 30 days).

This is a gift the casino gives you for registering and making your first deposit. We can choose from dozens of Spanish online casinos with bonus for new users, but usually the casino gives you bonus money - 100% or 200% of your first deposit, and sometimes free spins.

This welcome bonus has a wagering of about 30 times the bonus amount and a minimum deposit amount, which is usually only 10 euros.

No Deposit Bonus

No deposit casino bonuses are the most attractive free casino bonuses for Spanish players. These are free casino bonuses that do not require a deposit.

They are usually meant for new users and are given to you in exchange for registering. But with the new restrictions in Spain affecting bonuses and unavailable to new players, things have changed.

Some casino sites in Spain offer free bonuses, but also require you to provide documentation to verify your account. Bonuses are usually around 10 or 20 euros, and sometimes they also include free spins.

Free Spins Bonus

It is very common for Spanish online casinos to offer free spins for a deposit or registration. They usually come bundled with welcome bonuses as an add-on.

Free Spins are a type of free casino bonuses for slot machines so that you can try your luck and get a nice prize. Free Spins are non-transferable, but casinos usually specify which slots they can be used on.

Monthly Free Spins Bonuses

The best example of a free spins casino bonus is undoubtedly the one offered by Casino Barcelona. Online casino Barcelona offers its new players 20 free spins on online slots, up to 200 free spins in total!

Deposit Bonus

The difference between welcome bonuses and deposit bonuses is that the latter are not just for new users. Bonus casinos also offer promotions where if you make a minimum deposit using a promo code, you get a percentage of your deposit.

VIP Bonuses

Usually this type of VIP bonuses is provided by Spanish gaming houses by invitation. But there are also online casinos that use loyalty programs, VIP club, etc.

VIP invitation bonuses

In this case, Spanish casinos contact the player directly to offer them VIP bonuses. They are the hardest to get because the player has to meet a number of requirements in their game. For example, a casino that finds that the player plays daily, weekly and also does so by betting heavily.

To summarize, VIP invitation bonuses are given for one of these three reasons, basically:

1. "Money Betting. Those who play for large amounts of money. For example, those players who deposit weekly amounts of €300, €400, €500, etc. into their account.
2. "The time when a player is online". Another reason why a casino gives a VIP bonus is because the player goes online and bets for an extended period of time. For example, if he accumulates a total of 6 or 8 hours of gaming and online betting every Friday and Saturday.
3. "Game Frequency." Another way to get an online casino VIP bonus is to connect an eligible player every day or almost every day of the week, no matter how much he plays.
4. If you meet any of the requirements mentioned above, CGM Madrid Online (Casino Gran Madrid) is highly recommended, as it offers an invitation-only VIP Bonus to its top players.

No Invitation VIP Bonuses

Unlike the previous ones, these VIP bonuses are offered to Spanish players through "Loyalty Programs", "Loyalty Programs", or simply under the name of "Point Programs". The operation is very simple, and you simply have to follow the instructions of each of the Spanish casinos that have this type of program in order to accumulate points and win prizes, money and gifts as a VIP player.

Payment methods on Spanish casino sites

Methods of payment at online casinos can be divided into four groups:

1. First, they are bank cards. Most casinos accept deposits through VISA and MasterCard, this is the usual method of withdrawal;
2. The second method is bank transfers, which are commonly used for profit withdrawals;
3. The third means is electronic wallets and gateways such as PayPal, Skrill or Neteller. These are usually accepted for deposits and withdrawals;
4. Finally, there are prepaid cards like PaySafeCard, with which, logically, we can only deposit money into our gaming account;
5. Recently, payment methods such as Bizum or physical deposit and collection at the operator's gaming rooms have become popular.

Fortunately, there are now many payment methods that casinos and betting shops in Spain make available to you. To present this list, we have considered cost and ease of transaction, as well as security, as the main criteria.

• Teleingreso allows you to deposit money at an online casino, but pay offline by cash or card. When you request a deposit using this means of payment at a casino or betting shop, a 9-digit code will be generated, which you must use at one of the payment points that Teleingreso has (ATMs or stores, you can find them here) and pay the amount you have defined - in cash or by card - for the deposit to take effect;
• Entropay is a system that allows you to deposit funds through virtual Visa cards; that is, you can pay with Visa but not physically have a card. With Entropay, you can create up to 30 virtual Visa cards and choose how much you want to load onto the virtual card;
• Debit and Credit Cards - It is very hard to find an online casino site in Spain that does not accept Visa or Mastercard debit/credit cards, and many also accept Maestro and Diners cards. The card is the fastest and most direct form of payment you can use to make deposits or withdrawals at Spanish online casinos;
• Neteller is a digital payment service that acts as an electronic wallet (e-wallet) for online transactions. To use it, you simply need to load funds into your Neteller ewallet from your bank and select Neteller as your payment method when making a deposit at the relevant casino;
• PayPal was the first of the e-wallets and is now the most popular in the world. The vast majority of betting shops and online casinos accept it as a payment method for both deposits and withdrawals. It's as simple as linking our Paypal account to an online casino and start using it;
• Wire transfers - Wire transfers allow you to send money from your Spanish bank account to your online casino account. In theory, this is the easiest way to do this because it eliminates the middlemen who transfer funds for you. Your bank will simply check that there is money in your account and transfer it;
• Skrill is an electronic wallet that offers services similar to Neteller. To use it, you just need to select the currency in which you want to deposit and fill out basic personal information to be able to start using your Skrill account. This is a well-known and popular payment method in the world of online casino and betting in Spain;
• Paysafecard - Paysafecard is the world leader in prepaid cards, and you can use them to fund your online casino account without providing any bank details. Paysafecard prepaid cards can be found in stores, supermarkets, and service stations - 10, 25, 50, and 100 euros. The cards have a 16-digit PIN code, which must be entered on the casino website for the deposit to take effect;
• Trusted - This is a payment method that is gaining popularity and is being accepted by a growing number of online gambling companies. It allows you to make deposits and withdrawals online from your bank account without having to register somewhere or install any program;
• Neosurfing - This payment method works similarly to the Paysafecard. It is a prepaid card that you can buy in many establishments (supermarkets, tobacco shops, kiosks, gas stations) and offers the advantage that you do not have to immediately transfer the entire balance you have to your casino account, and you can spend a little time at a time. The amounts you can load onto your Neosurf card range from 10 to 100 euros;
• Quick Bank Transfer - As the name implies, this system is a bank transfer that is processed faster than a normal transfer. To pay with a quick bank transfer, if available at an online casino, the online casino will need to provide you with an account number to transfer the funds;
• Sofort Banking - With this system, you can make deposits to online casinos and betting shops faster than with a regular bank transfer. To complete it, you must transfer funds from your bank account to your casino account through your organization's online banking service, with the added benefit that the casino will not have access to your information.

What is the best payment method for Spanish players?

Spanish players have the luxury of choosing from several excellent banking methods. Since gambling is legal, bank transfers and credit cards offer simplicity and security. E-wallets, on the other hand, are fast and rarely charge fees. Payment cards are quite accessible, but have no withdrawal options. Overall, e-wallets offer the best overall service.

5 Expert Tips for Playing at Spanish Online Casinos

• Because of the limited number of casino games in Spain, it would be best to devote your time to one or two games. This will greatly increase your chances of making money;
• Spanish players who want to play for fun often find slots quite interesting. Slots are easy to play, have good RTP (return to player) and can give huge payouts (progressive slots);
• Many online casino sites in Spain also offer sports betting. Those who like to play on all fronts should find a casino that offers both;
• Playing multiple games is fun, but it can lead to addiction. Since Spain is one of the leading countries in the number of gamblers, there are different ways to seek help;
• Speaking of different games, some online casinos in Spain offer no-money gambling. This type of game is recommended to learn the techniques and strategies of the game before investing money.

Gambling laws and regulations in Spain

The history of online gambling in Spain is quite extensive, and in places a bit convulsive. In the beginning, physical casinos were legal, but for a long time it was not safe to play online. That all changed in 2011, when a new gambling law was passed. That date marked the passage of the law, but it wasn't until June 2012 that the (first) list of legal online casinos in Spain was approved.

Internet gambling has been regulated and legalized since June 5, 2012 by granting licenses to online casino operators that meet the requirements of the Gambling Regulation Act.

Prior to this Gambling Regulation Act, online casinos operated without any government oversight or regulation, meaning online gambling was not required by law, so it was neither legal nor illegal.

To begin regulating online gambling, the Spanish government ruled that online casinos seeking to operate legally in Spain settled their tax situation between 2009 and 2011, which was a good initiative to collect taxes.

The regulation of online gambling in Spain includes casinos, lotteries, sports betting and poker. All legal operators in Spain must place a secure gaming logo on their website, as well as have a .es domain and prohibit registration and access to minors.

Similarly, a campaign for legal gaming in Spain called "Safe Gaming" involves blocking access to online casinos and betting sites that do not have this online gambling regulation. It is important to know that Spanish players who visit these websites will not be able to get their money back if their access is blocked.

In order for a casino to operate in Spain, it needs a license. And let's say to get a license from the DGOY as a large number of requirements are required.

On the contrary, the advantages of playing at a licensed and legal online casino in Spain are many. For example, very importantly, it guarantees that you will play without any fraud or scams. In addition, it protects the interests of players and guarantees the deposit and withdrawal of funds. Nobody would want to win a big score on a slot machine, for example, and have no money to pay out the prizes, right? Well, that's something that has happened before, at casinos with, shall we say, questionable licenses.

The benefits of legal online gambling in Spain

• Does not allow access to minors and provides for self-exclusion of players;
• Guarantees fair play without fraud or scams;
• Protect players' interests;
• Guarantees payouts and withdrawals;
• Protect players' personal data;
• Online casinos pay taxes to the Spanish government.

To avoid risks, Spanish players are advised to play only at legalized and regulated online casinos in Spain. Before playing, it is important to check if the casino is legalized to avoid any risk.

In addition, a gambling regulation law has been passed, which imposes even stricter rules on online casinos. One of the most striking is the elimination of welcome bonuses. That is, until a few months ago, you could open a casino account, make a deposit and get money in return in the form of bonuses, slot free spins and the like. Now this is no longer possible, although bonuses still exist. The main difference is that you must be properly registered and identified, and wait at least 30 days before the casino site in Spain can offer us a promotional offer.

The second restriction that has been approved has to do with advertising. Until now, betting shops and casinos could place advertisements at any time and in any place. Now they can no longer do that: they can only advertise at dawn. Also now you can no longer use famous people to advertise casinos. The reason for this is to protect minors from gambling, which is no doubt the right choice. The problem is, why isn't the same being done with other government-backed gambling? Euromillions, pools and other games are not covered by this law, but they are still gambling.

Legal online casinos in Spain

Online gambling in Spain is legalized by Law 13/2011 of May 27, 2011. "On the regulation of gambling business" (Spanish Gambling Act). The regulatory body is the Dirección General de Ordenación del Juego (Gaming Regulation General Division), established under the Ministry of Finance. Virtual gambling establishments operate under the national domain *.es.

In the rankings are online casinos subordinate to the state regulatory authority and 17 units established by the autonomous districts (Comunidades Autónomas).

Protects the rights of players regulator Dirección General de Ordenación del Juego (Directorate General for the Regulation of Gambling of Spain, General Directorate for Gambling Regulation, DGOJ). Local developers of gaming software - the companies CODERE Group, MGA, Optima. International operators Greentube, NetEnt, IGT are popular.

Legislative regulations for online casinos in Spain

Regulation and licensing

Online casinos in Spain are regulated by the state (Minister of Finance) and regional authorities. Law 13/2011 on Gambling Regulation applies to online casinos operating in Spain (including foreign ones).

Legal casinos must be registered in the national domain, otherwise they are considered to be illegal. White and black lists of virtual gambling establishments can be found on the website.

The basis of law 13/2011 was:

• Royal Decree 1613/2011 on technical requirements;
• Royal Decree 1614/2011 regulating gambling licenses, permits and registries and resolutions;
• Ministerial decrees for each type of game.

Online casinos in Spain receive general and single licenses. There are three types of the former - for betting, contests (lotteries) and gambling. Single licenses are issued for:

• bingo;
• blackjack;
• roulette;
• baccarat;
• slots;
• poker;
• bets with fixed odds;
• betting on sports with fixed odds;
• sports betting;
• horse racing bets with fixed odds;
• exchange betting.

There is a concept of "other online games" in the Spanish law, which is not disclosed. If a gambling pastime is not in the list above, it is prohibited.

Applications for a general and a single license are submitted to the General Directorate for Gambling Regulation in Spanish. The general one is issued after an open tender. Valid for 10 years and subject to renewal.

The period of validity of the single permit - 3-5 years.

The company will get the license, if it proves solvency, reliability of the software and the presence of an encryption protocol that protects players from fraud.

The firm must be a public limited liability company, having its registration and head office in Spain or in an EU member state, the EEA.

Obligatory condition: the conduct of gambling activities must be the first and only sphere of employment.

To the treasury licensees pay fees in the amount of (euros):

1. 38,000 - for a report on the technical condition of the equipment;
2. 2,500 for the registration of each license;
3. 10.000 for each gaming software license.

Insurance is (in euros):

1. 2,000,000 for a general license;
2. 500 000 - for a single license.

A program is introduced in the licensee's software, which conducts internal monitoring. It registers transactions and financial transactions of the virtual establishment.

Regulators monitor the honesty and legality of licensees' payments.

The minimum age for access to online casinos in Spain is 18 years old. Means of payment for deposit and withdrawal are bank cards in any currency, PayPal, Skrill, Neteller, PaySafeCard.

Is online casinos legal in Spain?

If you want to gamble legally in Spain, you can do so without any problems, but be careful! Be careful when choosing a casino or bookmaker: make sure they are licensed and have a good reputation so you won't be disappointed.

Gambling regulators

The main regulator is the General Directorate for Gambling Regulation. The organization reports to the Ministry of Finance. Its functions are as follows:

• Proposal of bills to regulate the gambling market;
• Determination of functional and technical requirements for games;
• issuing licenses to operators who operate in more than one region;
• Controlling and inspecting the gambling business, and imposing penalties for non-compliance with the law;
• Preparation of reports, reports, and studies on the gambling market.
• Local authorities issue licenses to operators who operate within the region. They also supervise the business and monitor compliance with local laws. There are 17 regions in total in Spain.

Conditions for obtaining a license in a gambling jurisdiction

Licenses are issued for betting, casino games and other forms of gaming. Lotteries are not licensed because they are a monopoly of two organizations:

• Sociedad Estatal de Loterías y Apuestas del Estado (S.M.E.);
• Organización Nacional de Ciegos Españoles (ONCE).

Licenses are divided into two types: general and special. The operator is required to obtain both. The general license allows betting, contests (competitions) and other gambling activities. Licenses are valid for 10 years and can be renewed for another 10 years.

Special licenses relate to a specific game that the operator organizes. They are issued only if a general license has already been obtained. Such licenses last from one to five years.

In addition, there are licenses for the organization of games at the federal level (throughout the country) and regional level (only in one province).

The number of licenses is not limited by law. The issuance procedure is to verify whether the operator is reliable and everything meets the proper requirements.

Requirements for licensed operators

The organization must be based in the economic zone of the European Union and only engage in gambling business. The company must be registered in the Spanish Commercial Register. Foreign companies are registered in a similar register in their own country. In addition, they must have a permanent representative in Spain. Also obligatory registration in the General Registry of Gambling Licenses.

The operator provides all the necessary documents on its finances and economy, as well as all the data on the technical support and personnel.

• The fee is € 38,000.00 for technical advice (this is mandatory), 2500.00 for a general license and 10,000.00 for each exclusive license. This must be paid in cash.
• The guarantees are €2,000,000.00 in total (they can work as a game operator) and €1,000,000.00 for singles (in each game mode). This does not need to be done in cash, it can be through an insurance policy

The cost of the license

The guarantees are 2 000 000.00 EUR in total (the one who contributes the guarantee can work as a game operator) and 1 000 000.00 EUR for a single license (per game mode). Guarantee funds do not have to be paid in cash, an insurance policy will do.

Upon receipt of the license, the operator pays:

• 10,000 EUR for each general and special license;
• 2 500 EUR for each license to be added to Gaming Registry;
• 38,000 EUR for the certification of all licenses (mandatory consultation before license obtaining).

In addition the operators pay annually by January 31 a tax for the General Directorate for Gambling Regulation. It is 0.075% of the previous year's revenue.

Licensed types of gambling

Gambling, as defined by law and requiring a license, falls into two categories: federal and state. The list of games at the two levels differs slightly.

Federal law regulates the following games:

• pools on sports betting;
• horse racing pools;
• fixed sports betting and betting on horse racing;
• contests (competitions);
• poker;
• bingo;
• roulette;
• blackjack;
• baccarat;
• slot machines;
• additional games.

Lotteries are conducted only by the two organizations described above.

Seventeen regions of the country maintain their own catalogs of gambling games and gaming products, which operators are allowed to use. Each region establishes its own licensing procedure. On average, the list of licensed games looks like this:

1. French roulette;
2. American roulette;
3. blackjack;
4. bowls;
5. red and black;
6. craps;
7. baccarat;
8. poker;
9. slots and other slot machines;
10. bingo;
11. raffles;
12. tombola or charity raffles;
13. betting;
14. sports betting;
15. horse racing;
16. wheel of fortune.

All games have special licenses and separate regulations under the Spanish Gaming Act.

Gambling taxes in Spain

The amount of taxes depends on the region where the operator operates. Rates for land-based establishments are approved by the regional authorities. As an example - the scale of taxes in the Madrid region:

• 20% of gross receipts (GGR) for most land-based games;
• 15% of GGR for bingo;
• 30% of GGR for electronic bingo;
• 10% of GGR from online games provided in the region;
• 13% of GGR from betting;
• 10% of GGR from sports betting, horse racing and other types of betting.

Taxation of casino games depends on the tax base. The base is the gross receipts. It is calculated as follows: the sum contributed by all users to play minus winnings and prizes paid out. If the tax base is less than 2 million EUR, 22% is paid.

Then there is a scale according to the size of the base. The maximum base - more than 5 million EUR. In this case 45% of gross revenue from casino games is paid.

Online gambling in Spain

The online gambling business in Spain is showing constant and rapid growth. At the end of 2015 there were 52 online operators. The total amount contributed by players was EUR 8 billion. Gross revenues amounted to 319 million EUR or 3.7% of all deposited amounts.

Casino and betting games are mainly developed. Players contribute about 50% of all costs - for betting and about 25% for casino games. Contests, bingo and poker are not as popular in Spain. Nevertheless, the amounts spent on online poker in 2015 accounted for 20.8% of all spending. Slot machines account for only 4.6% of the money spent by users.

Online gambling is limited. Meaning that residents can only play in their area. But online operators can offer services in the region as well as nationwide. To do so, they get a license at the federal level.

Online operators get separate licenses for each type of game, too. The list of licensed online games is the same as for land-based venues: betting, raffles, contests, casino games and so on.

Tax rates for online gambling businesses are prescribed at the federal level. The fee depends on the type of game:

• sports betting pools - 22% of total revenue (turnover is the total amount contributed by all players to participate);
• fixed sports betting - 25% of GGR;
• pools of horse bets - 15% of total income;
• fixed horse bets - 25% of GGR;
• raffles - 20% of total income. For non-profit organizations, the rate is 7%;
• contests - 20% of total revenue;
• other games (poker, casino games, bingo, slots, etc.) - 25 of GGR.

The law on sports betting in Spain

Gambling and sports betting are generally legal in Spain. However, there are some restrictions that are part of the Spanish Gambling Act passed in 2011. Before this law came into force, sports betting was very easily accessible and unstructured in the Iberian country. Currently, any operator wishing to offer sports betting services (both online and physical) must obtain a license.

What are the options for players?

In Spain, players can try their luck at a wide variety of games. However, the Gambling Act prohibits live betting during an event. Bingo is also banned, at least in principle. Some sports that are required by law and you can bet:

• Soccer
• Basketball
• Horse racing
• Dog racing
• Tennis
• E-Sports
• MotoGP
• UFC, etc.

Another option is also the National Lottery. Unlike other games, the National Lottery in Spain is controlled and managed by the state itself, not the gambling authority. A special feature of the Spanish National Lottery is that citizens outside the country can also participate in it.

What is the minimum age for gambling in Spain?

In Spain, the minimum age for participation in gambling is 18 years old. This limit applies to all types of gambling in the country, not just sports betting. The minimum age applies in traditional gambling rooms as well as in online applications and platforms. This condition is applied quite strictly in Spain, since all casinos control the persons wishing to enter.

The development and popularization of casinos in Spain

In 2001, a survey was conducted among European citizens, where they were asked about casinos in European countries. According to the survey results, Spain and Italy shared the top two places. This statistic only confirms the fact that Spaniards love poker, roulette, slot machines, sweepstakes and lotteries. According to another statistic, in 2013, in casinos in Spain, locals and tourists left more than 10 billion euros in twelve months. This is a large sum, even for such a rich and gambling country. On average, a Spaniard spends a month on gambling about 480 euros.

At the beginning of XX century, Spain's gambling was subjected to serious repression: gambling clubs in every way oppressed and heavily taxed. But in 2011, everything came back to normal when the country moved to a system of legalization by the rules of the European Union. Although part of the restrictions from that period still remained: the country is allowed to open game clubs only in major cities and their suburbs, at a considerable distance from each other. In hotels with casinos in Spain and in simple gambling houses are allowed only people over 18 years old. Also in the clubs there is a rather strict dress code: persons under strong alcoholic and narcotic intoxication and guests in beach, religious or military clothes are not allowed, hence in neighboring Portugal in the best casino Lisboa in the capital such conditions of the dress code.

Casinos in Spain - the pearls of the sunny country

Spain is the capital of hot sun, sandy beaches and cozy coastal restaurants. Tourists come to Spain for the famous southern entertainment, nightclubs, comfortable hotels and, of course, casinos. Gambling life in the country is strongly developed and supported by government authorities in every way. In modern Spanish history there were periods when the gambling laws in every way oppressed and restricted the players and owners of European casinos in Spain, but the last five years everything has returned to normal and tourists and locals can enjoy slot machines, poker and roulette.

The capital of the sunny state is the large city of Madrid. It is currently home to about three million people and has more than a dozen prestigious and expensive gambling clubs. Spaniards are very passionate and temperamental people. They love dancing, good drinking and gambling in Spain.

The best gambling houses in the country

• Casino de Madrid is Madrid's oldest gambling club. The building opened in the mid-19th century as an elite gambling club for wealthy gentlemen. Over such a long period of time the building has retained its exquisite charm and beautiful architecture. The casino has 12 large gaming rooms, several restaurants, a swimming pool, sauna, and sports center.
• Gran Madrid is the largest casino in Spain, standing in the suburbs of Madrid. It is located 29 kilometers from the capital and covers eight thousand square meters. The gaming house began its work in 1989 and now houses within its walls about 200 gaming machines and slots, and dozens of tables for the game of poker, French roulette, Blackjack and Baccarat.
• Gran Casino Aranjuez is no less famous gambling establishment, located 35 kilometers from the Spanish capital. The complex operates more than a hundred gaming machines every day, rooms with card tables and roulette, a restaurant, nightclub and concert hall.
• Lopesan Costa Meloneras, located on the Spanish island of Gran Canaria. The island's welcoming atmosphere is capable of satisfying the thirst of the world's most gambling tourists. In addition, the resort has luxurious swimming pools, sandy beaches washed by the Atlantic Ocean, restaurants, night clubs, golf courses, gym and much more.
• Gambling establishments in Spain are not only gambling in casinos, but also a lot of other privileges for a comfortable holiday on the shores of the Atlantic Ocean.