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Nearly 2 million active players registered in 2024, prompting a fresh regulatory push.
Spain’s online gambling market bounced back in 2024 with a 20% increase in participation, driven largely by the comeback of welcome bonuses, a marketing tool that had been off the table for nearly four years. That rebound is backed by deep data, as shown in Spanish Online Gaming Hits New Highs: A Peek Inside the Numbers, where player loyalty, average spend, and promotional-driven growth are all tracked in detail.
According to new figures from the Ministry of Social Rights, Consumption and the 2030 Agenda, the number of active online gamblers climbed to 1,991,550, up 459,266 players compared to 2023.
Welcome bonuses fuel operator profits, but not without backlash
Promotions accounted for nearly half of all marketing spend last year.
The rise in players coincided with a partial annulment of Royal Decree 958/2020 by the Spanish Supreme Court, which reopened the door for operators to offer welcome bonuses starting April 2024. That decision sparked a wave of promotions, and results followed quickly.
Operators spent €526 million on marketing last year, with €261 million going to promotions alone. Overall, the industry generated over €8 billion in profits, including €1.45 billion from licensed online gambling.
By vertical, casino games led the way with €730.7 million, followed by sports betting at €608.8 million. Poker, meanwhile, saw a slight downturn, reporting €100 million in profits, a drop compared to 2023.
Demographics reveal sharp age and gender skew
Young men make up the majority of new and returning players.
As the player base expanded, a familiar demographic pattern re-emerged. The latest data shows that 80% of online gamblers were male, with a striking 85.7% aged between 18 and 45, the group most responsive to promotions and digital ads.
This pattern has raised red flags among regulators and public health officials, who are once again calling for tighter controls on how gambling is marketed to young audiences.
Government plans fresh crackdown on bonuses and consumer risks
A new legislative fix could shut down promotions once again.
In response to the boom, and the concerns it brings, Consumer Affairs Minister Pablo Bustinduy has proposed a new legislative amendment to reintroduce the ban on welcome bonuses, this time through the upcoming Customer Service Law. This dramatic shift toward consumer protection follows a wave of enforcement action, including €77.4 million in fines issued by Spain’s regulator last year, as detailed in Spain Gambling Regulator Imposes €77.4 m Fines on 14 Unlicensed Operators.
Bustinduy pointed to consumer protection as the priority, noting that operators were hit with more than €140 million in fines throughout 2024.
The move comes as part of a broader package of reforms, recently backed by the Spanish Gambling Policy Council, aimed at tightening licensing requirements and deposit limits across the board.
Outlook: more growth, more scrutiny
The balance between market growth and player protection remains delicate.
The return of welcome bonuses gave Spain’s gambling sector a significant short-term lift, but it may also have triggered a regulatory reset. With more players, higher revenues, and mounting political pressure, 2025 is shaping up to be a turning point.
What comes next could define the future of Spain’s online gambling market: a tug-of-war between commercial expansion and social responsibility. And for now, the government looks ready to tighten the reins once again.
Source: Gambling Insider
