🇪🇸 Spain · Dirección General de Ordenación del Juego (DGOJ)
Spain Online Gambling Licence — 2026
Strict iGaming regulator with mandatory affordability checks and strong consumer-protection rules. Aggressive 2021 advertising restrictions remain effective.
Tier 2 — Credible domestic / EU regionalSpain regulated its online gambling market in 2012 under the Ley 13/2011 administered by Dirección General de Ordenación del Juego (DGOJ). The Spanish market is one of the largest regulated iGaming markets in Europe with approximately EUR 1 billion annual GGR and 100+ licensed operators.
The 2021 Royal Decree 958/2020 introduced sweeping advertising restrictions banning gambling advertising during prime-time TV hours, prohibiting celebrity endorsements, and limiting bonus promotions. The restrictions face ongoing constitutional-court challenges but remain enforced as of mid-2026.
Quick facts
| Regulator | Dirección General de Ordenación del Juego ↗ |
|---|---|
| Tier | Tier 2 — Credible domestic / EU regional |
| Licence types | General Licence (casino, betting, poker), Singular Licence (specific game type) |
| Application cost | EUR 38,000 general licence application + EUR 10,000 per singular |
| Annual cost | 1% of GGR supervisory fee |
| Gaming tax | 20-25% on GGR (varying by game type and operator) |
| Corporate tax | 25% standard |
| Substance | Spanish-resident representative; substantial Spanish-language operational presence |
| Timeline | 4-8 months for general licence |
Pros
- Access to large Spanish market (EUR 1B+ annual GGR)
- Stable regulated framework since 2012
- Pan-EU brand strength
Cons
- 2021 Royal Decree restricted advertising heavily
- Affordability check requirements
- 20-25% gaming tax
- Spanish-language compliance requirements
Best for
- Spanish-speaking market focus (Spain + LATAM partners)
- Operators with substantial Spanish customer revenue
DGOJ licence — General vs Singular
The General Licence is the principal authorisation covering a category (casino, betting, poker). Within each General Licence, operators apply for Singular Licences for specific game types or product variations. Most operators hold combined General Licences for casino + betting + poker with multiple Singular Licences underneath.
2021 advertising restrictions
The Royal Decree 958/2020 effective 2021 dramatically restricted gambling advertising: prime-time TV ban (1am-5am window only), prohibited celebrity endorsements, restricted bonus promotions to existing customers only (no new-customer welcome bonus advertising), and limited social-media presence. Implementation impact has been material — Spanish operator marketing budgets dropped 70%+ year-on-year following the reforms.
Application process
- DGOJ pre-engagement
- Spanish company formation or EU representative
- Application file in Spanish with business plan and AML
- DGOJ review — 4-6 months
- Technical certification
- Licence grant
Operational realities
Capital requirements
DGOJ requires demonstrated financial resources. Audited Spanish-equivalent financial statements annually.
Player protection
Affordability checks. Self-exclusion. Deposit limits. 2021 marketing restrictions. Bonus restrictions to existing customers only.
Banking & payment processing
Spanish banks (Santander, BBVA, CaixaBank) bank DGOJ-licensed operators routinely.
B2B vs B2C licensing
No separate B2B regime — B2B suppliers must ensure operator customers hold DGOJ licence.
Recent developments (2025-2026)
2025 affordability-check expansion; ongoing constitutional-court challenges to 2021 advertising restrictions; bonus restrictions tightened.
How it compares
Versus Italy: similar large regulated EU iGaming markets. Spain has stricter marketing rules than Italy.
Frequently asked questions
What is Spanish gambling tax?
20-25% on GGR varying by game type and operator. Plus 25% corporation tax on profits.
What are the 2021 Spanish gambling advertising restrictions?
Prime-time TV ban (1am-5am window only), celebrity endorsement prohibition, restriction of bonus promotions to existing customers only.