According to the latest "Gambling Activity Report" released by the Spanish Ministry of Social Rights, Consumer Affairs and the 2030 Agenda, the online gambling activities in Spain saw a year-on-year increase of over 20% in 2024, with the number of active gamblers soaring to 1,991,550, an increase of about 460,000 from the previous year.
The analysis suggests that this growth is mainly due to the temporary lifting of the ban on Welcome Bonus policies. Such promotions for new users were originally prohibited by the "Royal Decree 958/2020" until April 2024, when some of its provisions were declared invalid by the Supreme Court, allowing operators to resume offering welcome promotions.
Data shows that the online gambling users in Spain are predominantly young males: about 80% are male, and 85.7% of users are aged between 18 and 45 years.
In 2024, the total profits of Spanish gambling operators exceeded 8 billion euros, with licensed online gambling revenues reaching 1.45 billion euros. By market segment, online casinos contributed the most, at 730 million euros; followed by sports betting, at 608 million euros; poker revenues fell to 100 million euros, becoming the only sector to experience negative growth.
Driven by the return of the Welcome Bonus, the overall marketing expenditure in the industry rose to 526 million euros, with 261 million euros spent on promotions, 203 million euros on advertising, and another 56 million euros directed towards affiliate marketing channels.
However, regulatory bodies are responding quickly. Minister of Consumer Affairs, Pablo Bustinduy, announced that the government is revising the "Customer Service Law" draft to re-ban Welcome Bonuses to strengthen consumer protection. In 2024 alone, gambling operators have been fined a total of over 140 million euros for regulatory violations.
Meanwhile, the Spanish Gambling Policy Committee is also continuously advancing regulatory updates, including optimizing the licensing process and adjusting deposit limits, aiming to find a balance between user growth and risk control, and to create a safer online gambling environment.
