Spanish gambling sites and laws | 2024 updated guide
Legal gambling in Spain dates back over 30 years but it wasn’t until the Spanish Gambling Act took effect in 2012 that the industry became regulated at a national level. Prior to this, all forms of betting were left in the hands of Spain’s 17 autonomous regions. Today, the General Directorate for the Regulation of Gambling Activities oversees licensing and regulatory compliance of online gambling while land-based operations such as casinos remain under the control of regional authorities.
Gambling is very popular in Spain. It is estimated that Spanish residents spend twice as much on betting as do the residents of the United Kingdom. Online gambling in Spain, such as gambling in France, has faced a lot of backlash from land-based establishments that have seen a significant drop in revenues due to internet betting’s growth.
- 1History of Spanish gambling sites
- 2Spanish gambling sites law and regulation: How Regulated is the Spain Gambling Market?
- 3Is Gambling Legal in Spain?
- 4What are the best Spanish gambling sites and promotions?
- 5Does Spain Tax Gambling Winnings?
- 6What currencies and Payment Methods do Spanish Players generally use?
- 7Criteria to choose the best Spanish gambling sites
- 8The most common games to gamble on Spanish sites
- 9How to bet online on Spanish gambling sites
- 10Recommended payment methods from Spanish gambling sites
- 11Customer services in Spanish gambling sites
- 12Spanish gambling sites safe and security
- 13Spanish gambling sites FAQ
Top 10 Gambling Sites for Spain in 23 April 2024 – Updated List
History of Spanish gambling sites
Spanish gambling sites law and regulation: How Regulated is the Spain Gambling Market?
Is Gambling Legal in Spain?
Spain legalized “skill-based” wagering in 1977. Four years later, they legalized casino games. Before this time, betting was limited to lotteries. Today, over 60 land-based gaming operations throughout Spain and several more online betting agencies are based within its borders, just like it’s at Paraguayan gambling sites.
What is the legal gambling age?
Further Information
What are the best Spanish gambling sites and promotions?
Does Spain Tax Gambling Winnings?
There are indeed taxes on gambling winnings in Spain. Spanish tax laws provide for a 20% tax on lottery winnings that exceed €2,500. Punters must declare all other winnings as income. There is a bit of relief with the government recently allowing bettors to write off their losses. Of course, approved casinos and gambling businesses are taxed. While operators and gamblers alike are not thrilled with the tax laws, wagering revenues continue to grow at a rapid pace.
How Do Players Declare Taxes on Winnings?
What currencies and Payment Methods do Spanish Players generally use?
Criteria to choose the best Spanish gambling sites
Whether you are betting for fun vs. betting for profit, settling on top Spanish gambling sites should be your priority. While most Spanish betting sites claim to offer the best sports betting sites and markets and overall betting experience, do not take betting sites at face value. Here are some essential criteria to follow to get the best Spanish gambling sites.
Tip
The online betting scene is about a range of sports. An online bookie offering a wide range of sports is worth considering. Of course, many Spanish punters may prefer football; a fair number will prefer other activities. Most Spanish bookies offer more than 30 specific sports markets – these are the best choices.
Odds and payout
On any list of Spanish gambling sites, always select those with competitive odds as they impact your payouts and gaming experience. A Spanish bookie offering great odds delivers better returns. Besides, each bookie has a specific payout rate, which indicates the commission sportsbook take. Competitive payout rates are the best.
Security and safety of the platform
A safe betting site and also secure sports betting platform means you won’t encounter external threats like stealing your data. Besides, your money is safe. Trustily betting sites use the latest encryption technology to cushion against threats – their software design and implementation can effectively mitigate cyberthreats and patch vulnerabilities.
The best online Spanish gambling sites, in many ways, should care for their customers. Apart from protecting from harm, it should promote responsible gambling.
Range of bet types
The range of bet types indicates the depth of a Spanish bookie. What are your favorite types of sports betting? Different Spanish punters have experience with the different types of types. While some may prefer straightforward bets like Moneyline betting, others may prefer complicated parlay betting. So, the best betting sites offer various bet types for better flexibility.
Licensing
Check out the licensing of the sportsbook – it shows the trustworthiness of a Spanish bookie. The Directorate-General for the Regulation of Gambling regulates gambling in Spain. So any Spanish bookie must have a license for this commission. That will show that its games are fair as independent labs will test them. Similarly, other European betting sites operating in Spain must be licensed within their jurisdiction.
Offers
Betting offers are something to anticipate on any betting site. Look for a decent welcome bonus and other promotional offers and bonuses. A good bonus amount increases bankroll, starting you off at a higher point.
The most common games to gamble on Spanish sites
Spain and the entire European region are rich in sports, but everyone has a favorite. It is worth noting that many betting operators exist in Spain. This includes international and local betting companies. So, Spanish punters can gambling sites by country.
How to bet online on Spanish gambling sites
Whether you want to gamble on euro bookmakers and betting sites or Spanish betting sites, the procedure is the same. Here are the steps. Selecting a gambling site. Choose a site based on the criteria listed above – that guarantees you a better betting experience. Also, check out for live betting bonuses, bet builders, streamlined design, and in-play statistics. Create an account. On the site’s home page, there is an option to register. Click on it and insert all the relevant information – name, email, phone number, residence, date of birth, username, and password.
Accept terms and conditions of service and then create your account. Top up. Make your first deposit bonus into your new account using one of the deposit methods. Your account is live, and you can start placing bets. Placing bets. Placing bets involves choosing a sport of interest and then going down to a specific game and checking the available markets. Choose the teams and type of bet you want to place bets on – this creates a bet. After bet creation, insert the wager amount and confirm the bet.
Recommended payment methods from Spanish gambling sites
How to deposit on Spanish gambling sites
Customer services in Spanish gambling sites
Spanish gambling sites safe and security
Spanish gambling sites mobile app experiences
PROS
- Wide range of sports betting markets
- Online sites offer competitive odds and payout rates
- Top players offer live betting and in-play statistics
- Almost all betting sites offer a mobile app
- Spanish gamblers can access the many international bookmakers by country
CONS
- Many rogue gambling operators exist
- Players are taxed their winnings
Spanish gambling sites FAQ
Yes. Spanish tax laws impose a 20% tax on lottery winnings exceeding €2,500. Punters must declare all other winnings as income.
Players declare taxes from gambling winnings as taxable income on income tax. Recent changes in the Spanish gambling tax laws allow punters to deduct their losses from their winnings.
All gambling sites operating in Spain accept Spanish players. However, such betting sites must have an es country domain.
Some betting sites are region-locked. You can only place bets while in Spain if you use a gambling site with an es domain. Nonetheless, you can use a VPN to access other sites while in Spain.
Yes. There are dedicated esports betting sites in Spain. These sports betting sites offer popular esports and a wide range of markets.
According to 2020 gambling revenue reports, the online gambling industry in Spain is worth €21.60 billion.
Most top casino operators in Spain offer live betting/in-play betting. So, Spanish players using these sites can place bets when games have already started.
Spanish gambling sites and law: Penalties for Gambling Offenses
It’s true; Spanish players have access to the free gambling market. But the law isn’t soft to gambling-related crimes. Federal and regional governments monitor the industry to ensure minimal chances of illegally offered games, match-fixing, money laundering, tax evasion, and underage gambling – the Spanish gambling age is 18 years.
There are severe consequences for those who break the law – for instance, fines, loss of gambling licenses, and even imprisonment. However, it’s the bookmakers in Spain who are charged with offenses mostly. Penalties for lacking licenses is Up to €50 million, and accepting under age is up to €100 thousand plus license revocation. If a bookie breaks advertising restrictions, fines range between €100 thousand and €1 million and license suspension for up to six months.
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