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Is online gambling legal in Spain?
Status of online casinos, the regulator, the minimum age and where to get help, with our sources and the date we checked them.
Short answer
Online casino play is legal for players aged 18 or over at operators holding a DGOJ licence. The minimum age to gamble is 18.
Legal overview
Online gambling in Spain is regulated at national level by Law 13/2011 on the Regulation of Gambling. Operators that want to offer online casino games, poker or betting to players in Spain need a general licence plus individual licences for each type of game, issued by the Directorate General for the Regulation of Gambling (DGOJ), part of the Ministry of Consumer Affairs. The DGOJ publishes the list of licensed operators. State lotteries are reserved for SELAE and ONCE, and land-based gambling is regulated by the autonomous communities.
Players must be at least 18 and pass identity checks, and licensed operators must consult the national register of gambling exclusions (RGIAJ), through which people can bar themselves from all licensed gambling. Royal Decree 176/2023 added safer-gambling duties for operators. Royal Decree 520/2026 of 24 June 2026 goes further: from 25 March 2027, deposits will be capped across all operators at €700 per day, €1,750 per week and €3,300 per four weeks by default, with any increase subject to a cooling-off period and managed by the DGOJ. Since June 2026, foreign operators without a domicile in Spain must appoint a permanent representative there.
Gambling advertising is regulated by Royal Decree 958/2020, although the Supreme Court annulled several of its provisions in April 2024. Offering gambling in Spain without a licence is unlawful, and in May 2026 the DGOJ opened a public consultation on reforming Law 13/2011 to fight illegal websites with tougher sanctions and blocking.
| Status | Regulated market |
|---|---|
| Regulator | Dirección General de Ordenación del Juego |
| Main law | Ley 13/2011, de 27 de mayo, de regulación del juego (Law 13/2011 on the Regulation of Gambling) |
| Licensing model | Open licensing: the DGOJ grants general licences and game-specific licences to operators meeting its requirements, while state lotteries remain with SELAE and ONCE. |
| Online casinos | Online casino play is legal for players aged 18 or over at operators holding a DGOJ licence. |
| Tax on winnings | Prizes from state lotteries and bets run by bodies such as SELAE and ONCE are exempt up to €40,000 and the excess is subject to a special 20% levy; other gambling winnings, including from online casinos, are declared in the personal income tax return. |
| Advertising rules | Royal Decree 958/2020 regulates gambling advertising, but in April 2024 the Supreme Court annulled several provisions, including the ban on famous people in ads, restrictions on welcome promotions and limits on social media and video-platform advertising. |
| Enforcement | A reform of Law 13/2011, under public consultation until June 2026, aims to toughen sanctions and blocking against illegal gambling websites. |
| Minimum age | 18 years |
| Currency | EUR |
| Self-exclusion scheme | RGIAJ (Registro General de Interdicciones de Acceso al Juego) |
| Last checked | October 25, 2026 |
FAQ
What deposit limits will apply in Spain from 2027?
From 25 March 2027, default limits of €700 per day, €1,750 per week and €3,300 per four weeks apply across all licensed operators combined.
How do I exclude myself from gambling in Spain?
Register in the RGIAJ, the national exclusion register run by the DGOJ, which all licensed operators must check.
Are lottery prizes taxed in Spain?
Prizes from SELAE, ONCE and similar bodies are tax-free up to €40,000, and the part above that is subject to a 20% special levy.
Help and self-exclusion in Spain
Free, confidential support: FEJAR
Self-exclusion: RGIAJ (Registro General de Interdicciones de Acceso al Juego)
Sources
- ordenacionjuego.es/
- ordenacionjuego.es/operadores-juego/operadores-licencia/operadores
- cuatrecasas.com/es/global/propiedad-intelectual/art/nuevo-real-decreto-limites-deposito-conjuntos-juego-online
- gamblinginsider.com/es/?p=104056
- sede.agenciatributaria.gob.es/Sede/ayuda/manuales-videos-folletos/manuales-practicos/irpf-2024/c11-ganancias-perdidas-patrimoniales/concepto/delimitacion-positiva/que-no-exista-norma-legal-exceptue.html
- aedaf.es/es/documentos/descarga/72479/los-ciudadanos-tienen-que-tributar-las-ganancias-de-juego-online-aunque-no-lleguen-al-minimo-para-hacer-la-renta
- legaltoday.com/practica-juridica/derecho-publico/publico/el-tribunal-supremo-anula-varios-articulos-del-real-decreto-958-2020-de-comunicaciones-comerciales-de-las-actividades-de-juego-2024-04-11/
This overview is editorial information, not legal advice. Laws change; the regulator's own publications are binding.