Spain puts a Spotlight on the Social Impact of Gambling at the International Gaming Congress
Last week in Madrid, Spain’s national authority responsible for licensing, the Directorate General for the Regulation of Gambling, drew together over 300 industry delegates, including Government officials, operators and gaming professionals, at the International Gaming Conference.
Placing an emphasis on the technical and social impacts of gaming, the event shone a light on the current regulatory challenges and safer gambling to exchange insights on how to minimise risks to consumers and industry challenges.
As the digital gaming market in Spain and around the world continues to expand, an increased focus has been placed on consumer protection and social inequality. And the challenge that many industries stakeholders face is balancing regulation and innovation, to support the growth of the industry whilst protecting players.
The event is a milestone for Spain and demonstrates its efforts to promote responsible gambling, acknowledging the social impacts at play, and how by bringing the industry together can have a powerful effect on shaping future regulatory strategies. In recent years, Spain have also introduced several requirements around advertising, including restrictions and display warnings on betting sites, to protect players.
The Minister of Social Rights, Pablo Bustinduy, described the event as a pivotal moment to combine regulatory responsibility with scientific evidence. A key feature of the event was the presentation of research projects funded by the DGOJ to encourage engagement and showcase the authority’s technical and social legitimacy.
Spain’s Gambling market
Spain gaming market is significantly growing, attracting many operators due to its robust regulated environment due to introducing various restrictions on advertising and operational regulations that has enhanced its controlled environment. By minimising unregulated activities, there is a more lucrative environment for operators, and sports betting has particularly demonstrated strong growth.
Why choose the Spanish igaming licence?
Access to a Large, High-Value Market
Spain is one of Europe’s biggest regulated gambling markets, with:
• Millions of active online players
• Strong interest in sports betting, casino, poker
• Consistent year-on-year growth in online gambling revenue
A licence gives you access to this legally protected market with relatively high player lifetime value (LTV).
Strong Brand Credibility & Player Trust
A DGOJ licence is viewed as one of the most reputable in the EU because of Spain’s strict standards:
• Players trust licensed operators more
• Higher conversion rates due to visible regulatory approval
• Stronger retention due to regulated safer-gaming frameworks
It becomes a marketing asset, especially for international expansion.
Ability to Advertise Legally in Spain
Only licensed operators can legally:
• Advertise online or on Spanish media (subject to restrictions)
• Use affiliates
• Partner with sports teams or sponsorships (within regulations)
This gives licensed brands a huge competitive edge over offshore competitors who cannot run legal ads or sponsorships.
Lower Competitive Risk (High Entry Barriers)
The licence process is strict, long and expensive, meaning:
• Fewer operators manage to enter the market
• Less competition compared to “easy licence” jurisdictions
• Higher market share for those who do get licensed
This makes Spain a premium and protected market rather than an overcrowded one.
EU/EEA Regulatory Alignment
Spain’s framework aligns with EU expectations on:
• AML (anti-money laundering)
• Data protection (GDPR)
• Player safety
• Transparency and reporting
This reduces risk and improves compatibility when expanding to other regulated EU markets.
Strong Legal Protection & Operational Stability
Licensed operators benefit from:
• Clear legal protection
• Predictable tax regime
• Stable regulatory oversight
• Proper dispute-resolution and compliance processes
Operating unlicensed is high-risk in Spain due to active enforcement.
Improved Access to Payments & Banking
Payment providers and banks prefer licensed operators:
• Higher approval rates
• Lower chargeback risks
• Access to better PSPs and safer payment flows
Unlicensed operators often face blocked transactions or high-risk processing fees.
Ability to Host Spanish Players Using .ES Domain
Only licensed operators can legally:
• Offer gambling under a .es domain
• Target Spanish IP addresses
• Engage with Spanish-language SEO, media and influencers
This significantly boosts reach and organic acquisition.
Higher Company Valuation
A Spanish licence is an asset:
• Increases company valuation for investors
• Makes mergers/acquisitions more attractive
• Serves as proof of operational and regulatory maturity
VCs and gaming investment firms often favour operators with Tier-1 licences.
Long-Term Market Security
General licences typically last up to 10 years, providing:
• Long-term business planning
• Predictable regulatory environment
• Strong foundation for brand building and scaling
It’s one of the more stable regimes in Europe.
How to licence in Spain
There are two tiers of licence to operate online in Spain:
• A general licence: this covers a broad range of gambling activities, such as betting, casinos, lotteries etc.
• A singular licence: after obtaining the general licence, the operator must apply for this licence if they want to offer sports betting, poker and blackjack.
Spain’s igaming licence requirements
There are also several legal, technical and compliance requirements to be met.
The operator is required to establish a local presence in Spain, which involves them appointing a local representative or opening a local office. The company also must prove financial stability, meet the licence requirements, including submitting a comprehensive business plan, and maintain compliance by meeting AML requirements.
Licence fees and timeframe
There is a one-off fee of around €10,000 for each licence (general or “singular”) in addition to around €2,500 for entry on the general registry of gambling licences. There are also a technical reports/certification fee for systems audit of around €38,000 and a financial guarantee of up to €2 million for a general licence, and around €500,000 for each singular licence. The law sets deadlines for the regulator to decide, but actual processing time will depend on the completeness of the application and technical compliance.
Interested in licensing in Spain?
Gaming Gateway provides bespoke solutions for securing new gambling licences or optimising existing gaming operations with expert support. We offer bespoke consultancy with obtaining the igaming licence in Spain, including support throughout the application process, compliance, banking and beyond.
Contact us
Contact our team at hello@gaminggateway.com to obtain Spain’s gaming licence today.
