Spain is a famous tourist destination that has an open culture that helps change the Spanish's view of gambling. Spanish has a penchant for gambling, with it being estimated that more than 1.9 billion euros are spent on pastimes each year. However, things have changed since the financial crisis in 2008 and the Spanish government has begun to take a controlling attitude towards gambling.
Gambling has been legal in Spain for over 30 years but in 2011 the landscape of Spanish betting activities changed forever after the Gambling Act was enacted. There are 17 autonomous Spanish communities that will monitor for betting activities of any kind.
Gambling Laws in Spain
The Spanish government passed its first Internet gambling law in 2006, which includes the legalization of sports betting organizations online and in licensed stores. The land-based casinos in Spain are supervised by 17 separate regional governments. The central government in Madrid will be responsible for national regulations.
In 2008, the first legal betting shops opened with British companies such as William Hill combined with Spanish companies to open a large number of betting venues quickly.
The Spanish government quickly began to revolutionize the online gambling law with a committee formed in 2010 to find better ways to regulate the online gaming sector. Then, the Spanish Gambling Act 2011 enacted all the key national regulations in the field of betting.
Currently, the Spanish government uses 10-year licensing rules for domestic casino operators and requires providers to place servers in Spain.
Gambling Activities in Spain
In 2013, the Spanish Gambling Authority launched a plan to enable online betting exchanges and online slot machines, in order to bring more revenue to the government. These changes have been expected by the international online gambling community, but the Spanish government is again strongly opposed by land-based casinos and forced the government to reconsider its approach to balance both sides.
Due to the strict rules, Spanish gamblers have limited options in choosing online casinos. Experts say that after a while with the gambling tax increase, the licensing system is likely to be loosened, and pave the way for a more diversified betting market in Spain in the future.
Although gambling has just been legalized in Spain, it has attracted a number of major events such as the European Poker Tour Season 10 and was Spain's biggest poker tour ever. Spain hosted the World Games Summit in July 2013, featuring more than 300 delegates from 90 online and land-based casinos to discuss the future of betting games.
In 2019, two general elections were held in Spain, and there have been a number of political parties who have raised conflicting opinions about the gambling game in campaigns. Proposals for limiting gambling ads and opening new gambling rooms have also been introduced.
Payment Methods
Spain online casinos offer a wide selection of payment methods, and bettors need to find the one that best suits their preferences. In addition, it is important to make deposits and withdrawals through reliable financial services, as bettors need to ensure transactions are processed quickly and securely. The following are the preferred payment methods for players from Spain:
E-wallet
Many online casinos in Spain accept e-wallet payments such as PayPal, Skrill, Neteller and ecoPayz. This is the most popular means of payment as gamblers can create accounts and store money for free.
Debit and Credit cards
VISA or Mastercard is the most accepted form of payment, without bettors having to create a separate account. Most Spanish players use this payment method as winnings will be transferred directly to a bank account.
Bank Transfer
Bank transfers are suitable for withdrawals, and bettors should not send money through this method as it will take a very long time. This form of payment is not common at online casinos in Spain, as it can take 3 to 5 days for gamblers to get money into the deposit betting account.
Prepaid Cards
For gamblers who want to hide transactions or hide personal information, you can use prepaid cards. With prepaid cards like Paysafecard, bettors can buy cards from convenience stores. This payment method can help gamblers control deposits much better.
Mobile Payments
This method is no longer popular at casinos in Spain, although mobile payments offer many conveniences. Mobile payment providers such as Boku or Siru will redirect players to a secure server to allow deposits or withdrawals. This amount will be transferred to your mobile phone bill or billing balance.
Cryptocurrencies
Cryptocurrencies are a safe and anonymous payment method on a number of Spanish casinos that accept Bitcoin, Litecoin, and Ethereum. Payments will go directly to the seller, instead of having to be confirmed by an outside agency.
