Spain sees 20% rise in gambling activity following return of welcome bonuses
The country now has nearly two million active gamblers (1,991,550), representing an increase of 459,266 players from the previous year.
Key points:
– Online gambling in Spain grew by over 20% in 2024, reaching nearly 2 million active players
– Welcome bonuses, banned until April 2024, are credited with driving the surge in new users
– The Government plans to re-ban welcome bonuses via new legislation
Gambling participation in Spain rose by more than 20% in 2024, according to the latest Report on Gambling Activity in Spain published by the Ministry of Social Rights, Consumption and the 2030 Agenda.
The number of active online players reached nearly two million (1,991,550), with the Government attributing the growth largely to the reintroduction of welcome bonuses – promotional offers that were banned until April 2024.
The demographic profile shows that 80% of active players are male, with 85.7% falling between the ages of 18 and 45.
Operators generated over €8bn ($9.26bn) in profits last year, with state-licensed online gambling accounting for €1.45bn of that total.
Casino games followed with €730.7m, sports betting with €608.8m and poker with €100m – the latter being the only segment to report a decline in online profits.
The return of welcome bonuses followed a partial annulment of Royal Decree 958/2020 by the Spanish Supreme Court, which ruled that certain promotional restrictions should be regulated by law, not decree.
As a result, gambling companies spent €526m on marketing in 2024, with €261m directed toward promotions, €203m on advertising and €56m on affiliate marketing.
Minister Pablo Bustinduy has announced a proposal to reintroduce the ban on welcome bonuses through an amendment to the upcoming Customer Service Law.
He cited consumer protection as the driving force behind the move, following the imposition of more than €140m in fines on gambling operators in 2024.
This follows broader regulatory discussions within the Spanish Gambling Policy Council, which recently approved updates to licensing procedures and deposit limits in an attempt to foster a safer gambling environment.
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