The rise of online betting in Spain has caused significant changes in Spanish gambling law. However it's good news for players who can legally use a range of different online betting sites legally.
Check out the best online bookmakers accepting Spanish players and all the key info laws and legislation's concerning the country below.
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Best Legal & Licenced Spanish Betting Sites:
The following is a list of the best betting sites for residents of Spain:
Key Facts: Online Gambling In Spain
- Both online and offline gambling fully legal and regulated.
- Spanish Gambling Act passed in 2011 to deal with gambling law and licensing.
- Online gambling legal with licenced operators only.
- Unlicensed betting and gambling sites are usually blocked by internet service providers.
- Must be 18+ to gamble legally.
Gambling Legislation & Law Timeline
As mentioned above, the regulation and management of gambling in Spain is largely shared between the national and regional levels of government. For a long time, it was only the country's separate regions which passed gambling legislation. The following, however, are the major milestones on the road toward the current national Spanish gambling legislative situation:
1977 – First National Legalisation
It was in 1977 that the first few forms of gambling were nationally legalised in earnest in Spain. These forms were so-called ‘skill based gambling activities'.
Key Facts: Online Gambling In Spain
- Both online and offline gambling fully legal and regulated.
- Spanish Gambling Act passed in 2011 to deal with gambling law and licensing.
- Online gambling legal with licenced operators only.
- Unlicensed betting and gambling sites are usually blocked by internet service providers.
- Must be 18+ to gamble legally.
Gambling Legislation & Law Timeline
As mentioned above, the regulation and management of gambling in Spain is largely shared between the national and regional levels of government. For a long time, it was only the country's separate regions which passed gambling legislation. The following, however, are the major milestones on the road toward the current national Spanish gambling legislative situation:
1977 – First National Legalisation
It was in 1977 that the first few forms of gambling were nationally legalised in earnest in Spain. These forms were so-called ‘skill based gambling activities'.
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1981 – Further Legalisation
Just four years later, the Spanish national government extended the breadth of gambling activities considered legal in the country. The passage of legislation in 1981 led to so-called ‘games of chance' being legalised alongside ‘skill based gambling'.
2011 – The Spanish Gambling Act
Passed essentially in response to the rapidly growing influence of online gambling, the Spanish Gambling Act of 2011 is the single most important piece of legislation when it comes to the regulation of gambling in Spain.
The act laid down the entire legal and regulatory framework of the gambling industry, defined punishments for illegal gambling, stipulated tax rates and created a national regulatory body. That regulatory body is known as the Direccion General de Ordenacion del Juego (General Directorate for the Regulation of Gambling Activities or DGOJ). It is this body which is responsible for blocking access to and for fining unlicensed online gambling sites, amongst many other powers.
Are Players Taxed On Winnings?
All of the above, therefore, should give an accurate overview of the legal situation regarding gambling in Spain. One area which we shouldn't neglect, however, is that of taxation and particularly of if and how winnings are taxed.
Unfortunately under Spanish law, unlike the law of many other countries, not all gambling winnings are tax exempt. Only winnings under €2,500, in fact, are exempt and any winnings beyond that mark are subject to a 20% tax rate. A law passed in 2012, however, does allow punters to discount their gambling losses from tax paid on any gambling winnings accrued in the same tax year.
Recommended Deposit Methods
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There are few reasons for Spanish punters to consider issues of legality when it comes to their choice of deposit method when gambling online. Even if they bet with unlicensed overseas providers, after all, punters themselves are not doing anything illegal.
In general, then, most Spanish punters tend to choose to deposit via debit or credit card due to the speed and ease of that particular method. Some less scrupulous punters, however, who may wish to circumvent tax do choose to deposit via E-wallet services which make the ultimate destination of their money less easy to discern and more secure.
