Europe
Spain licenses online gambling through DGOJ general and singular licences under Ley 13/2011: 20% net-revenue tax, .es domain, no B2B licence.
No B2B supplier licence, but supplier game, platform and aggregator software must be certified by a DGOJ-designated lab and homologated as part of each operator's technical system
Operators need a general licence per category (10 years, renewable) plus singular licences per game type; licences are granted through calls published in the BOE
Gambling activities tax of 20% of net revenue on betting, contests and other games, plus a regulatory fee of 0.75 per thousand of stakes
Mandatory .es website, redirection of Spanish traffic and an internal control system data warehouse located in Spain
TV and radio gambling ads only between 01:00 and 05:00, no shirt sponsorship, and joint cross-operator deposit limits (EUR 700/1750/3300) from 2027-03-25
The four questions that decide whether a market is worth entering.
State-wide online gambling in Spain is governed by Ley 13/2011 and licensed and supervised by the Dirección General de Ordenación del Juego (DGOJ), part of the Ministry of Social Rights, Consumer Affairs and Agenda 2030. Operators need a general licence for each gaming category (betting, contests or other games such as casino, poker and bingo) plus a singular licence for each game type, while state lotteries are reserved to SELAE and ONCE and land-based gambling is licensed by the autonomous communities. There is no separate licence for B2B suppliers, but every component of an operator's technical system, including third-party game, platform and aggregator software, must be certified by a DGOJ-designated testing lab and homologated before use. Operators pay the gambling activities tax, generally 20% of net revenue, plus a DGOJ regulatory fee of 0.75 per thousand of stakes. Real Decreto 520/2026 introduces a cross-operator joint deposit limit system from 25 March 2027, and a public consultation on reforming Ley 13/2011 opened in May 2026.
Status is the position for a licensed operator, not for offshore supply.
Daily Fantasy Sports
Not stated
Esports Betting
Not stated
Horse Racing / Pool Betting
Licensed
Pool and fixed-odds horse-race betting and pool sports betting are licensed game types under the Apuestas licence.
Land-based Casino
Licensed
Licensed by the autonomous communities, outside DGOJ competence.
Online Bingo
Licensed
Online bingo is a game type under the Otros juegos general licence.
Online Casino
Licensed
Roulette, blackjack, punto y banca, slots (máquinas de azar) and complementary games under an Otros juegos general licence plus singular licences.
Online Lottery
State monopoly
State-wide lotteries are reserved to SELAE and ONCE; no other entity can obtain a lottery licence.
Online Poker
Licensed
Poker is a game type under the Otros juegos general licence.
Online Sports Betting
Licensed
Fixed-odds, pool and exchange sports betting under an Apuestas general licence plus singular licences.
Retail Betting
Licensed
Retail betting premises and terminals require authorisation from the relevant autonomous community.
Skill Games
Not stated
Social / Sweepstakes Casino
Not stated
Fees are the published headline figures. Tiered and revenue-banded amounts are set out in the notes under each licence.
Independent testing labs that issue the preliminary and definitive certification reports on operators' gaming software and on the security of their information systems.
Conditions to satisfy
Any operator offering state-wide (online) betting to players in Spain; must also hold a singular licence per betting type offered.
Tasa of EUR 10000 per licence application (Ley 13/2011 art 49.5.d); annual regulatory fee of 0.75 per thousand of gross operating income; operator guarantee EUR 2000000 in the initial period, then EUR 1000000 for all general licences combined (rising to EUR 2600000 / 1300000 from 2027-01-01).
Conditions to satisfy
Online Sports BettingHorse Racing / Pool Betting
Businesses running paid prize contests linked to a TV, radio, internet or other media programme (paid entry or premium-rate calls/SMS).
Tasa EUR 10000 per licence; guarantee EUR 500000 initial period, then EUR 250000 if Concursos is the only general licence (EUR 650000 / 325000 from 2027-01-01).
Conditions to satisfy
Operators offering online casino games (roulette, blackjack, punto y banca, slots, complementary games), poker or bingo to players in Spain; a singular licence per game type is also needed.
Tasa of EUR 10000 per licence application; annual regulatory fee of 0.75 per thousand of gross operating income; operator guarantee EUR 2000000 initial period, then EUR 1000000 (rising to EUR 2600000 / 1300000 from 2027-01-01).
Conditions to satisfy
Online CasinoOnline PokerOnline Bingo
General licence holders, for each specific game type they offer (e.g. fixed-odds sports betting, exchange betting, poker, roulette, slots, bingo); only general licence holders can apply.
Tasa EUR 10000 per licence; additional guarantee per game type as a percentage of prior-year revenue (e.g. 6.5% of net income for fixed-odds sports betting and bingo, 8% for roulette, poker, blackjack, slots).
Conditions to satisfy
Online CasinoOnline Sports BettingOnline PokerOnline BingoHorse Racing / Pool Betting
Any operator offering state-wide (online) betting to players in Spain; must also hold a singular licence per betting type offered.
Tasa of EUR 10000 per licence application (Ley 13/2011 art 49.5.d); annual regulatory fee of 0.75 per thousand of gross operating income; operator guarantee EUR 2000000 in the initial period, then EUR 1000000 for all general licences combined (rising to EUR 2600000 / 1300000 from 2027-01-01).
Conditions to satisfy
Online Sports BettingHorse Racing / Pool Betting
Businesses running paid prize contests linked to a TV, radio, internet or other media programme (paid entry or premium-rate calls/SMS).
Tasa EUR 10000 per licence; guarantee EUR 500000 initial period, then EUR 250000 if Concursos is the only general licence (EUR 650000 / 325000 from 2027-01-01).
Conditions to satisfy
Operators offering online casino games (roulette, blackjack, punto y banca, slots, complementary games), poker or bingo to players in Spain; a singular licence per game type is also needed.
Tasa of EUR 10000 per licence application; annual regulatory fee of 0.75 per thousand of gross operating income; operator guarantee EUR 2000000 initial period, then EUR 1000000 (rising to EUR 2600000 / 1300000 from 2027-01-01).
Conditions to satisfy
Online CasinoOnline PokerOnline Bingo
General licence holders, for each specific game type they offer (e.g. fixed-odds sports betting, exchange betting, poker, roulette, slots, bingo); only general licence holders can apply.
Tasa EUR 10000 per licence; additional guarantee per game type as a percentage of prior-year revenue (e.g. 6.5% of net income for fixed-odds sports betting and bingo, 8% for roulette, poker, blackjack, slots).
Conditions to satisfy
Online CasinoOnline Sports BettingOnline PokerOnline BingoHorse Racing / Pool Betting
Independent testing labs that issue the preliminary and definitive certification reports on operators' gaming software and on the security of their information systems.
Conditions to satisfy
Everything a licensee pays in Spain on top of the licence fee.
| Charge | Rate | Charged on | Paid by |
|---|---|---|---|
| Impuesto sobre actividades de juego (gambling activities tax)GGR TaxOnline Sports Betting · Horse Racing / Pool Betting · Online Casino · Online Poker · Online Bingo | 20%20% of net income (stakes less prizes paid; commissions for exchange betting) for sports, horse and other betting (pool, fixed-odds and exchange), contests and other games; 10% for operators tax-resident and actually located in Ceuta or Melilla | Net income (ingresos netos) = amounts staked plus other gaming income less prizes paid | OperatorSource |
| Tasa por la gestión administrativa del juego - regulatory activity feeLicence / Regulatory Fee | 0.07%0.75 per thousand of gross operating income (total amounts staked; for exchange betting, the amount won by players) | Gross operating income (stakes) | OperatorSource |
| Tasa por la gestión administrativa del juego - one-off service feesLicence / Regulatory Fee | EUR 10000 per licence application; EUR 100 per authorisation; EUR 38000 minimum per technical conformity assessment report; EUR 2500 per entry in the General Register of Gambling Licences; EUR 5000 minimum per mandatory inspection; EUR 20 per register certificate | Per service | All LicenseesSource |
What the DGOJ expects once a licence is granted.
Newest first. Each entry links to the notice it came from.
Real Decreto 520/2026 creates a DGOJ-managed system capping each player's combined deposits across all operators at EUR 700 per day, EUR 1750 per week and EUR 3300 per four weeks by default; players can lower, raise or remove them with a three-business-day delay. Operators must connect to the system and reject deposits over the limit; guarantee amounts also rise from 1 January 2027.
The DGOJ opened sanction proceedings against prediction-market platforms Polymarket and Kalshi for offering betting in Spain without a licence and ordered their websites blocked as a precautionary measure. The DGOJ treats prediction markets on uncertain future events as gambling requiring a licence.
The ministry opened a prior public consultation, until 22 June 2026, on amending Ley 13/2011 to cover celebrities and influencers in ads, customer-acquisition promotions, organic search advertising, identity and payment verification and illegal gambling. From 21 July 2026 the DGOJ held meetings on more than 50 submissions before drafting a bill.
The DGOJ opened public information on a draft resolution requiring gambling ads to carry a message on the harmful effects of problem gambling, replacing the current responsibility message, and setting format, size and content specifications. Comments were accepted until 26 November 2025.
The Supreme Court partly upheld challenges to Real Decreto 958/2020, annulling the ban on promotions to attract new customers, the restriction on celebrities in ads, the general limit on online advertising and parts of the social media rules. Other provisions, including the 01:00-05:00 broadcast window and sponsorship limits, remain in force.
Published decisions against licensees — the clearest signal of what the regulator actually polices.
| Date | Licensee | Action | Amount | Reason |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 26 May 2026 | Polymarket | Blacklisting | — | Sanction proceedings opened for offering prediction-market betting in Spain without a licence; website blocking ordered as a precautionary measure pending the final decision.Source |
| 25 Nov 2025 | Electraworks Ceuta | Fine | EUR 512,000 | Fined for three serious infringements: allowing prohibited persons to play, using non-homologated or unauthorised technical systems, and breaching technical requirements for software and communication systems.Source |
| 25 Nov 2025 | Beatya Online | Fine | EUR 300,000 | Fined for breaching the technical requirements of the regulations on software and communication systems.Source |
| 25 Nov 2025 | 888 Online | Fine | EUR 250,000 | Fined for breaching technical requirements on software and communication systems and for using non-homologated or unauthorised technical systems.Source |
| 25 Nov 2025 | Betfair | Fine | EUR 100,000 | Fined for failing to meet its responsible gambling and player protection obligations.Source |
State-wide online gambling is licensed and supervised by the Dirección General de Ordenación del Juego (DGOJ), which sits under the Ministry of Social Rights, Consumer Affairs and Agenda 2030. The legal basis is Ley 13/2011 on the regulation of gambling. Land-based casinos, bingo halls and betting shops are licensed by the autonomous communities instead.
No, Spain has no separate B2B supplier licence. However, a licensed operator must list every platform, game, aggregator and data-warehouse software provider in its technical system, and all of that software must be certified by a DGOJ-designated testing lab and homologated before it goes live.
An operator needs a general licence for each category it offers (Betting, Contests or Other games such as casino, poker and bingo) plus a singular licence for each specific game type. General licences last 10 years and can be renewed, and singular licences run for one to five years. Applicants must be a public limited company from the EEA with gambling as its sole purpose.
The gambling activities tax is generally 20% of net income (stakes minus prizes) for betting, contests and other games, or 10% for operators based in Ceuta or Melilla. Operators also pay a regulatory fee of 0.75 per thousand of gross operating income, plus one-off fees such as EUR 10000 per licence application.
Minors are barred from gambling under Ley 13/2011, and the age of majority in Spain is 18. Players can register in the national self-exclusion register RGIAJ, which blocks access to all online gambling; registration is indefinite and can only be cancelled after six months.
Yes. Each operator must cap deposits at EUR 600 per day, EUR 1500 per week and EUR 3000 per month unless the player passes tests to raise them. From 25 March 2027 a DGOJ-run joint limit of EUR 700 per day, EUR 1750 per week and EUR 3300 per four weeks will also apply across all operators combined.
Gambling ads on TV and radio can only run between 01:00 and 05:00, including during live sports. Shirt sponsorship and naming stadiums or teams after operators are banned. The 2020 ban on welcome bonuses for new customers was annulled by the Supreme Court in 2024, but promotions must still disclose their conditions clearly and may not target self-excluded or at-risk players.
Yes. Licensed operators must use a dedicated .es website and redirect Spanish players to it. They must also keep the internal control system warehouse, which records all gaming and payment transactions, in Spain, with remote access for DGOJ inspectors.
The statutes, regulations and technical standards this page is built from.
Real Decreto 520/2026, de 24 de junio, por el que se modifican el Real Decreto 1614/2011 y el Real Decreto 176/2023 (sistema de lÃmites de depósito conjuntos por jugador)Joint Deposit Limits Decree
Decree · Partially in Force · 24 Jun 2026
Creates a DGOJ-run joint deposit limit system across all operators (EUR 700 daily, 1750 weekly, 3300 per four weeks by default), raises operator guarantee amounts and drops mortgages as an accepted guarantee.
Real Decreto 176/2023, de 14 de marzo, por el que se desarrollan entornos más seguros de juegoSafer Gambling Environments Decree
Decree · In Force · 14 Mar 2023
Safer-gambling obligations for operators: safer gambling officer, information duties, pre-set session limits for casino-type games, live-betting limits, protections for young and intensive players, risk-behaviour detection and self-exclusion handling.
Real Decreto 958/2020, de 3 de noviembre, de comunicaciones comerciales de las actividades de juegoGambling Advertising Decree
Decree · Partially in Force · 03 Nov 2020
Rules on gambling advertising, sponsorship and promotions: broadcast time windows, sponsorship limits, online and social media advertising, bonus conditions and operator safer-gambling duties.
Resolución de 6 de octubre de 2014, de la Dirección General de Ordenación del Juego, por la que se aprueba la disposición que establece el modelo y contenido del informe de certificación definitiva de los sistemas técnicos de los operadores de juego y se desarrolla el procedimiento de gestión de cambiosTechnical certification and change management resolution
Technical Standard · In Force · 06 Oct 2014
Sets the model and content of certification reports for operators' technical gaming systems (including software supplier lists) and the procedure for managing changes to homologated systems.
Real Decreto 1614/2011, de 14 de noviembre, por el que se desarrolla la Ley 13/2011 en lo relativo a licencias, autorizaciones y registros del juegoLicensing Regulation (RD 1614/2011)
Decree · In Force · 14 Nov 2011
Implements the licensing procedure, operator guarantees, registers (including RGIAJ) and per-operator deposit limits (annex II); amended in 2026 to add a joint cross-operator deposit limit system.
Ley 13/2011, de 27 de mayo, de regulación del juegoGambling Regulation Act (LRJ)
Act / Law · In Force · 27 May 2011
Framework act for state-wide gambling, above all online: licensing (general and singular licences), lottery reserve for SELAE and ONCE, advertising principles, player protection, the gambling activities tax, the regulatory fee and the sanctions regime.
Compiled from official regulator and government sources, most recently on 26 Sept 2026. It is a starting point for commercial research, not legal advice — confirm the current position with the DGOJ or local counsel before you act on it.
