Best Betting Sites in Spain

Spain, lying in the Iberian peninsula, with the overseas territories and the sunny weather, is known as one of the world's most relaxed and easy-going countries. Spaniards have a tradition of loving outdoor activities, with sports dominant in everyday lives. With Real Madrid, Barcelona and the national football team challenging for international titles, locals are no strangers to sports betting, which has been legal for more than 40 years.

The tipping point occurred in 2011 with the introduction of the Spanish Gambling Act, handing out licences and regulating the market. Betting sites in Spain have the distinguished .es domain and include several powerhouses, but the options do not end there. Several unlicensed Spanish bookmakers accept local players adding an exciting alternative.

Best Spanish Betting Sites

You can pick from a well-established bookmaker with a local license or an offshore one with looser restrictions. Our hand-picked Spanish betting sites combine the best from both worlds. They rank high in odds, markets, live betting and bonuses and come with overall ratings.

Gambling in Spain - 5 Things to Know

• 1
  The legal age for gambling in Spain is 18 for all forms of gambling
• 2
  In 2006 the Spanish government passed its first internet gambling laws that legalised sports betting both online and in licensed betting outlets
• 3
  The 2011 Spanish Gambling Act forms the backbone of the entire country’s gambling industry, regulating online poker and sports betting in both physical and digital forms
• 4
  No Welcome bonus is allowed since early 2021; only loyalty offers to players who made more than three deposits and registered over a month ago
• 5
  Winnings under €2,500 are exempt from taxes in Spain

General info

⏩Population: 46.720.000

⏩Active Players: 2.500.000

⏩Currency: Euro

⏩Regulated Gambling Products: Sports betting, horse racing, poker, bingo, casino games, lotteries (state-run)

⏩Operator types: State-run betting shops, land-based casinos, online casinos & bookmakers, offshore gambling sites

⏩Designated Authority: General Directorate for Gambling Regulation (Dirección General de Ordenación del Juego)

⏩Status: Local licenses are issued, for both sports betting and casinos to private operators

Online Betting in Spain: The Law Framework

Gambling in Spain has been legal for more than 40 years. The first national legislation came in 1977 when the government legalised skill-based gambling activities in the whole country. After that, in 1981, the Spanish government extended the legality of gambling to games of chance alongside skill-based games.

However, since Spain consists of 17 autonomous regions, the regulation was not uniform until 2011, with the voting of the Spanish Gambling Act. This act defined the whole legal framework, established the fines for illegal gambling, stipulated the taxes, and named the Spanish regulatory body Direccion General de Ordenación del Juego.

According to the Spanish Gambling Act, only DGOJ can issue licenses to Spanish gambling sites, all of which must bear the .es country domain. Spaniards need to be 18 years of age to bet on any regulated Spanish betting companies.

What You Should Know About Spanish Bookmakers

Apart from the .es bookmakers, there are also .com bookmakers that accept Spanish players. As mentioned above, the tax on gambling winnings is 20%, which applies to operators and players. It used to be 25% until 2018, but the government decided to reduce it by 5%, making Spain's taxation in line with many other European countries.

One of the benefits of playing on .com betting sites in Spain is that you do not have to pay taxes on your winnings. Even if you end up with a lot more profit than €2,500, you can walk away with it. A major change that took place in the first months of 2021 is the total bonus ban for new players.

That’s right, no more welcome bonuses of any kind. The only offers are for those who have been members for over a month and have deposited at least three times. That can give a clear advantage to offshore Spanish bookmakers as they can give a 100% signup offer or similar.

Sports Betting Spain: How to Deposit

After the Spanish Gambling Act was passed in 2011, it became easier to fund your account and withdraw money on Spanish betting sites. You can use any payment method you would typically use to purchase online.

Most bettors prefer credit and debit cards such as Visa and MasterCard. Wallets such as Skrill, Neteller, and PayPal, and traditional methods such as bank wire transfers are also popular.

Some sites also accept Teleingresso, which allows players to make deposits using one of the thousands of ATMs on the streets. Cryptocurrencies have also become a hot topic, and a growing number of Spanish betting sites have started to accept them.

Should you Wager on Betting Sites in Spain 

The new set of rules enacted in 2021 made an already strict environment for regulated betting sites in Spain even harsher. Banning welcome bonuses and severely limiting bookmakers' marketing on TV and radio could drive away a big chunk of players. Luckily, there is the alternative of unlicensed sportsbooks, but how do they stack up to the competition?

Firstly the good news is that you can access international Spanish betting companies by only using a VPN. Moreover, there is no history of the state persecuting players for betting on non-regulated bookies. At the end of the day, it comes down to what you value more. Ensure to look at the Spanish La Liga Game Predictions, or alternatively, you can check out Copa del Rey betting sites. They come with a local license and have an excellent and proven reputation, while offshore ones have a broader set of extras.

Gambling in the Neighbouring Countries

If you are in Spain, gambling may be available and regulated, with access to some unlicensed bookies. But how does it compare to neighbouring countries? What about Mexico, where players might share the same localised content? Let's take a look at some of these countries for a better insight into the situation and to ensure we are adhering to the law:

⏩ Mexico:  the Mexican Federal Law of Games governs all forms of gambling within the country, although the regulation of online betting remains partially implemented. While several bookmakers have obtained local licenses, a significant number of players seek Mexican betting sites that adopt an independent approach, prioritizing alternative regulatory frameworks.

⏩ Portugal: is another EU member that has fully regulated its gambling market both online and on land. However, high taxation and strict compliance measures have pushed locals to access unlicensed and illegal operators. Portugal betting sites comprise only 11 bookies that are locally licensed.

⏩ Gibraltar: gives international Tier-1 licenses for online bookmakers. Being a British overseas territory, companies that hold a Gibraltar license can also operate in the UK. This makes betting sites in Gibraltar safe for players and offers taxation incentives for operators.