Best Casinos in Spain

The Gambling Act

Coming into force on May 29th, 2011, the Gambling Act covers all forms of online and offline betting, including lotteries, casinos, sports, and poker betting. Operators willing to obtain a license must apply to get one from the General Directorate for Gambling Regulation, which is a part of the Ministry of Finance. The procedure starts with a public tender, announced by the Ministry, and all applicants need to meet certain criteria. One of the conditions is that the company servers need to be located in Spain. Also, the minimum guaranteed amount for a single license is at least €1m. Operators failing to meet the requirements are banned from operating in Spain.

Apart from the State authorities, the Spanish Gambling Act provides the 17 Spanish autonomous communities with the opportunity to dictate the gambling regulations within their respective regions.

The law is focused on regulating the national gambling operations through various means, including the media, the Internet, and different means of mass communications. Advertising or promoting gambling activities or an operator is a subject of State approval. Besides, advertising or sponsoring a gambling operator without a license is strictly prohibited. Games supplied by the lottery operators LAE and ONCE are also currently monitored and controlled by the Act.

It is illegal, though, for Spanish citizens to bet with operators who do not hold a Spanish license.

Like in many other countries, you need to be over the age of 18 to bet and play in an online casino. Even in the company of an adult, minors are not allowed to enter land-based casino premises.

Riquezas de la Alquimia (Riches of Alchemy)

As one of the most well-received online slots in Spain, Riches of Alchemy (translated to English) is a recently released MGA Games product. It takes players to the enchanting world of magic and mystery.

It’s fascinating to see how this developer unfolds this mystical theme with unique symbol designs and exciting bonus features, all in an attempt to captivate modern players.

Riquezas de la Alquimia is a 5×3 slot with 25 pay lines. It revolves around helping Crookleg the cat and Wanda the witch build their magical powers.

Every time you land three or more matching symbols, it adds to the magic potion counter. But if you land three or more scatters, you hit the jackpot by unlocking the free spins bonus round.

What’s more, at the end of the free spin bonus round, a super respin feature is triggered. And it comes with a giant money symbol, whose value is attached to the super respin counter.

That way, every winning spin is multiplied by the value for higher payouts.

Down to the technicals, the slot also has fun and colorful graphics, which give off a very cheerful vibe. RIquezas de la Alquimia has an RTP of 95.1%, and a max win potential of x2,000. Its bet limits range from €0.25 to €25, which is ideal for budget players.

Amazing Link Zeus

SpinPlay Games, a somewhat new partner to the giant developer Microgaming, has been busy over the years creating notable titles for players worldwide. And its Amazing Link Zeus slot is a hit in Spanish online casinos.

Designed to hop on the legendary streak respin trend, this 5×3 slot comes with 20 betways and four jackpots that can be won in a bonus pick ’em random game.

The game is set in the mythical land of the gods above Olympus. The Amazing Link Zeus features comic-style graphics, with the mighty Zeus being the Wild symbol. Other symbols in this game include an orb, temple, harp, bird of prey, pegasus, green urn, and the basic A, J, K, Q, 10, and 9 cards.

This slot machine has an RTP of 96.33%, which is within the industry average. Budget players can wager as little as €0.2, while high rollers can enjoy max bet limits of €50. The max win potential is x5,000.

Spanish Sports Betting Sites

Spaniards are passionate about sports. In fact, football is by far the most famous sport in Spain, with legends like Raul Gonzales Blanco, Spain’s greatest footballer, hailing from this sunny European country. That said, it’s not surprising that the Spanish sports betting market is among the largest globally.

Whether you prefer football, tennis, basketball, rugby, or even esports, you’ll be spoilt for choice when it comes to online betting. It also helps that many licensed sportsbooks allow an array of safe and potentially profitable betting opportunities. But that’s only if you’re above 18 years and within the borders of Spain.

Yearning for a thrilling and comprehensive Spanish sportsbook. Well, here are the best sports betting sites in Spain:

MasterCard

Like Visa, MasterCard doesn’t need any introduction. Since its debut in 1966 as Interbank, this global financial service provider is second only to Visa. Many use it for online payments via its credit, debit, and prepaid card products.

In fact, MasterCard is available in 210+ countries, making it one of the largest payment options worldwide. It is among the most preferred in Spanish casino sites.

Not only does it allow instant deposits, but it also facilitates secure withdrawals. But when it comes to the payout fees, it depends on the state’s gambling laws as well as the casino operator.

As for the timelines, we’ve already stated that deposits take place immediately, provided your account is verified and your MasterCard debit or credit card is still active.

For payouts, the time frame depends. It can take as little as one day, but it can also require a maximum of six business days.

Revolut

With over 15 million customers in 35+ countries, including Spain, Revolut ranks high when it comes to swift mobile payment solutions. Although it debuted in 2015, this option has also grown to become one of the most reliable e-wallets. It offers online payment solutions as well as free international bank transfers, among many other products.

Did we mention that Revolut also has a European Banking license endorsed by the Bank of Lithuania? Well, that goes a long way in convincing casino players of the authenticity and security of this award-winning payment option. Plus, they can use it to deposit and withdraw their online casino winnings.

Note that Revolut deposits reflect in a flash. Payouts may take up to five business days, depending on your Revolut account type and residing country.

The same applies to Revolut’s transaction limits. While most Spanish online casinos accept deposits and withdrawals as little as €5, this limit can go as high as €5,000. But be sure to check with your chosen casino’s banking T&Cs for specific details.

Wondering about the transaction fees? Generally, Revolut’s standard plan, which is the most popular, is free – for the most part. Deposit transactions are charge-free. And so are ATM payouts up to €200 every month.

Withdrawals higher than €200 per month attract a 2% transaction fee or a €1 minimum for every transaction. Separate international fees also apply.

Gambling Regulator in Spain

The Directorate General for the Regulation of Gambling, simply known as DGOJ under the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, regulates all forms of gambling activities within Spain. It operates under the Spanish Gambling Act, which was first enacted in 1977 and later amended in 2011 to include online gambling.

Generally, the body strictly monitors, manages, revises, and amends everything dealing with gambling and betting at a federal level in Spain. That also includes issuing licenses, ensuring gambling operators employ safe and fair practices, as well as general regulation of the market.

However, gambling and betting activities at a regional level, be it online or land-based, are under the relevant authority in each of the 17 autonomous Spanish regions. And in most regions, that authority is usually within the respective regional departments of interior or finance.

That said, offshore casino operators cannot offer their gambling products in Spain unless they obtain a valid license from the DGOJ. Luckily, the process of gaining licensure in Spain is pretty streamlined. Conditions that the operator, be it local or offshore, should meet include:

• They should be a registered public limited company in Spain or within the EEA (European Economic Area).
• A €60,000 minimum share capital.
• Its main objective should be restricted to providing, commercializing, and organizing betting or gambling activities.
• If the operator is based outside Spain, the company should have a physical office within Spain.

Do note that the conditions for land-based licenses vary from one region to the next. The same applies to online casinos targeting a specific region.

It’s also worth noting that a general gambling license is valid for 10 years, while a single license is valid for three to five years, based on the license type.

Gambling Taxes in Spain

State and regional governments in Spain impose taxes on the casino operator. In fact, operators with gambling machines are required to remit taxes quarterly to the regional government where the machines operate. Of course, the amount to be paid varies from one region to the next, as well as the type of machine in question.

Casino and sports betting operators pay a certain percentage of their GGR (Gross Gaming Revenue) every quarter. With regard to casinos, the percentage paid depends on the region as well as the machines used. But, do note that all gambling activities are exempt from VAT.

As for online operators, they are subject to a 20% tax on the GGR. That is, the total amount received from wagering or any other related income minus the amount paid out to winning players. Further, operators are required to pay an annual 0.75% per €1000 of the gross operating revenue.

Another important point to note is that operators in the cities of Melilla and Ceuta are only required to pay a 10% tax of GGR quarterly. Not 20% like those in the 17 autonomous regions.

What about players’ taxes? Anyone who wins must declare the amounts in their Personal Income Tax returns. But they are also entitled to deduct their losses from those wins, hence maximizing their payouts.

ONCE and SELAE lottery winners who get an amount over €40,000 must pay a 20% tax on their winnings.

Spain Gambling Addictions Help

The DGOJ requires all casino operators within Spain to facilitate safe and responsible gambling. And through its strict monitoring, the body has managed to maintain a remarkably low problem gambling rate of just 0.3% in the past year (2023).

Regardless of its success, the authority continues to implement rigid responsible gambling measures. In fact, 2023 saw it usher in a new set of 30 more responsible gambling measures aimed at fostering a culture of healthy gambling habits.

Some of these new measures include:

• The creation of a national self-exclusion register – The General Register of Banned Gamblers (RGIAJ).
• Operators are also required to offer responsible gambling tools to enable their customers to set deposit limits, self-exclude for a specific period, and get help from relevant organizations, among many others.
• For more help with gambling addiction, the DGOJ has compiled a comprehensive responsible gambling page on their website. Here, players can get the nitty-gritty on how to gamble responsibly, what tools they can use for safer gambling practices, and where they can get help.
• Examples of organizations that can help problem gamblers include the Spanish Association for the Prevention and Help to Gamblers (APAL), Jugar Bien, the Spanish Federation of Rehabilitated Gamblers (FEJAR), GamCare, GambleAware, and more.

Final Verdict

One of the most regulated yet exciting markets, the Spanish gambling landscape is pretty straightforward. Citizens can only wager at casinos licensed by regional authorities or the DGOJ. And like the rest of Europe, gambling taxes are taken very seriously by Spanish gambling authorities.

Compared to many other European countries’ gambling laws, those operating on Spanish territory are far more tolerant. Anywhere worldwide, gambling winnings over a certain amount are subject to taxation. The same goes for Spain. However, you can actually deduct the losses from your winning amount for the same taxation period, making your profits a little higher.

That said, plenty of physical and online casinos cater to the specific gaming preferences of online players. From providing them with plenty of bonuses to availing their services in the Spanish language to supporting EUR, Spanish online casinos are known for their thrilling yet immersive experience.

Choose any of our top recommendations, enjoy the smooth sign-up process, fund your account with any of the many payment options, and start enjoying an exceptional gaming experience right away! And don’t forget, always play responsibly.