The legalization of online gambling has represented a significant growth in the offer of sports betting sites in Spain.
And it is not just about numbers but about meeting the high-quality standards that the industry itself demands in the face of the emergence of more demanding players from regulated bookmakers in Spain.
With solid legislation for the casino sector and a significant number of available operators, sports betting in Spain has positioned itself as an entertainment activity with high demand. Spain is by nature a sports-loving country, so in this analysis, you will learn how sports betting works in Spain through a detailed review.
1 |  | Make your first deposit and get a 100% match bonus |
| Read 22Bet Review | |
2 |  | £30 in Free Bets + £10 Casino Bonus |
| Read 888Sport Review | |
3 |  | 100% Up To €120 + 120 Free Spins |
| Read 20Bet Review | |
4 |  | 100% Match Bonus up to $200! + 100 Spins |
| Read Karamba Review | |
5 |  | £30 free bets for just £10! |
| Read William Hill Review |
Quick Jump
Is Online Sports Betting Legal in Spain?
Online sports betting is legal in Spain and players have nothing to worry about, except for regular tax when playing at Spanish betting sites.
In Spain, all gambling that took place online was regulated in 2011, through the Gambling Law. Although the regulation began on that date, it was in 2012 when the granting of licenses was secured. Since then, access to foreign websites that were not regulated was restricted.
Although it is a gray area, since players are not legally prohibited from accessing the website of a gaming operator without a Spanish license, the betting houses are prohibited from offering or accepting players from Spain in their various games, something applicable for any type of game online as betting or casino. Although, as we will see later, the Government tries to prevent this access in different ways.
Each bookmaker in the Spanish territory is being monitored by the state manager par excellence, the Directorate-General for the Regulation of Gambling. This institution is responsible for ensuring compliance with the law by sports betting houses that provide their online services within the Spanish jurisdiction. Meanwhile, bookmakers and physical casinos are the responsibility of each community in particular, since physical gambling is a matter whose regulation has been ceded to the majority of Autonomous Communities. Returning to the issue of online regulation, the primary objective of the DGOJ is to ensure a fair, transparent, and reliable context.
We are aware that many online casinos and bookmakers have recently joined the gambling industry in Spain thanks to the effective regulation that the State forged. As proof of this, today you can find a total of more than 60 gambling houses that lie under the protection of the license issued by the DGOJ. Also, if you are presented with a website of dubious origin, you can go to the official page of the DGOJ to verify if it is trustworthy.
Let us take as an example the regulation of Spain. Simply, everything revolves around ensuring compliance with the law, an obligation that corresponds to the DGOJ. This action requires tests and other kinds of requirements that bookmakers must meet in order to receive a free operation license. As the activity of the bookmakers is managed, the promotion of “Safe and Responsible Gaming” is also instilled. To enter the Spanish betting sector, it is necessary to comply with the requirements demanded by the DGOJ. Among such responsibilities are the payment of taxes, providing a transparent service, and ensuring the protection of user data.
Bookmakers may obtain a license valid for up to 10 years if they remain within the parameters established by the Regulation Law enacted in 2011. Likewise, they will also be provided with the distinctive seal of “Safe Game” which reflects a simple view of the security of the service.
In addition to .es bookmakers, there are also .com bookmakers that accept Spanish players, such as Intertops. The tax on gambling winnings is 20%, which applies to both bookmakers and players. Before it was 25% until 2018, but the government decided to reduce it by 5%, which makes taxation in Spain in line with that of many other European countries. One of the advantages of playing in .com bookmakers in Spain is that you do not have to pay taxes on your winnings. Even if you end up with a much larger profit than $2,500, you can simply withdraw the money and not worry about paying taxes.
Another reason why you should consider playing on websites without a .es domain is convenience. The Spanish regulatory body (DGOJ) issues separate licenses for casino operators and sports betting houses. Therefore, if a website wants to offer both, it has to obtain two licenses. Therefore, many Spanish websites do not want to bother and focus on one or another product. On the other hand, .com websites do not have this problem, so you can freely play your favorite slot machines and place bets on the matches of your favorite football team.
In a vast sea of sports betting sites in Spain, it can be difficult to choose the right one. Naturally, all sports betting sites will compete with each other and therefore will offer great betting conditions to Spanish citizens. It is up to a player to choose which betting site they prefer the best.
Before choosing their favorite betting site, a player must consider the following.
Security and safety are the main elements that should distinguish a quality betting service. The most prominent bookmakers in Spain have a web portal that protects all the procedures you carry out, avoiding data leakage in the process. In addition, the licenses that the sports betting house has at its mercy are admired as another security seal that should not be missing, since this is what ensures the transparency of the service.
What is the use of having a variety of betting offers if there are no lucrative bonuses involved? Many bookmakers in Spain will offer you exclusive welcome bonuses which stand out as the only type of offer they offer. Meanwhile, other sports betting houses give you the welcome bonus and, at the same time, promote eventual bonuses as part of their loyalty program. As you can see, the availability of offers is another relevant factor.
Our preferred Spanish betting site must have a fully functional website that is fully protected by standard encryption mechanisms. In terms of mobile gameplay, the web portal must provide an app or at least a mobile version so that you can place your bets from anywhere. Finally, the theme and structure of the bookmaker’s interface must be interactive and user-friendly.
The odds are just as important since they reveal which odds have been improved by the Spanish bookmakers for the bettor’s enjoyment. Let’s see it like this: when a bookmaker optimizes its odds for certain disciplines and markets, the player who knows how to take advantage of these perks will be able to receive very rewarding rewards, a trait that undoubtedly distinguishes the service of a bookmaker.
Markets – this primary factor refers to the number of disciplines present in the catalog or Sportbook of a bookmaker. The more sports and other disciplines that are available, in addition to their respective markets, the more options the bettor will have when preparing to formulate their predictions. The same happens with the availability of matches with coverage for the live section, as they are one of the most popular bets.
A quality bookmaker will show you a list of payment methods that are sufficiently varied and extensive so that you can carry out your transactions as quickly as possible. Among the payment methods that bookmakers most often support are e-wallets (PayPal, Neteller, Skrill, etc.), credit cards (Visa and MasterCard), prepaid cards (Paysafecard), and bank transfers.
The customer service is a part of the betting center that must remain intact and accessible to the user. What differentiates the implicit quality in each bookmaker will be determined by the effectiveness and immediacy of the customer service team. A high-level bookmaker consists of a trained, accurate and fast technical support service that provides all the necessary tools to solve the problem.
Generally, the web pages or mobile applications of the bookmakers have in a practical and accessible way the information on the available sporting events, the different types of bets that you can choose, and the simulator of the odds that will allow you to know how much you can win. This value changes according to the sport, the match, the type of bet, and the probability of unexpected situations that arise.
If you are thinking of venturing into the world of online gambling in Spain, here is what you need to do:
First, you need to create an account on a betting site. First, visit the site of their online bookmaker and somewhere on the site you will see a button “Registration” and click on it. From there you have two steps.
After filling in all the fields and clicking on “Next Step”, you proceed to the verification of the account. Account verification is something that must be done in any online bookmaker. It is necessary because the bookmaker in which you want to create an online account must confirm the validity of the data you entered during registration.
In order to verify the account, you need to send a picture of a valid document on which you can see the data you entered when registering on their site. It can be a picture of a passport or a picture of an ID card on both sides, if the ID card has a chip, then read it in any photos shop and send it.
To start online betting, you need to deposit money into your newly created account. You have several options:
Many sports betting sites in Spain will offer Welcome bonuses upon the first deposit. Claim such bonuses in order to have better chances of winning.
The most popular sports are by their own right those that move more bets online and the reason is simple, the more popular they are, the more users will be interested in betting and with it, the bookmakers will improve their odds and markets.
That said, we have prepared a list of what are statistically the most popular sports in Spain.
There are several types of bets that are most commonly used in Spain. The bets can range from the simple to the most complex ones, including live event betting. 
A bet placed on a single outcome in a sports event. It is the simplest and most straightforward type of bet.
Also known as accumulator bets, these involve betting on a series of selections. To win, all selections must be correct.
Bets placed in real-time as the sports event is taking place, with odds that change dynamically based on the current score and situation.
A bet focused on the number of goals scored in a match, it can pertain to total goals scored, or goals scored by a specific team.
The fact is that bookmakers will have different estimates and give different valuesto give you the best odds, so comparing different sports betting sites in Spain is always recommended. Placing your bet on the bookmaker that gives you the highest odds will mean that you will have a higher winning. For example, the net of earning 12% more money due to that difference is possible. 
A bonus provided to new bettors when they first register with a betting site. Typically includes free bets or a matched bet based on their first deposit.
A bonus that offers a certain number of free bets based on various criteria like deposit amount, betting patterns, or promotional offers.
A bonus awarded to new bettors without any initial deposit requirement. This can be in the form of a free bet or bonus credit for betting.
A bonus tailored for VIP bettors with unique perks and benefits. Perks might include personal account managers, exclusive betting offers, and faster withdrawal options.
What Is the Best Payment Option for Spanish Players?
In general, eWallets are the most popular choice when it comes to online gambling. Spain is no different as it provides a great variety of eWallets to choose from. But it can all depend on personal taste.
The best payment methods that sports betting sites in Spain offer are divided into four types, which are: Bank transfers, credit and debit cards, prepaid cards, and electronic wallets. In this list you will find all the payment methods accepted by bookmakers in Spain:
Gambling in Spain is very legal, including sports betting and online casino gambling.
Spain, like many European countries, has strict laws and regulations when it comes to online gambling. All legal bookmakers are incredibly safe to gamble at.
Online gambling and sports betting have reached their peak and all sports betting sites in Spain must be incredibly safe to bet at if they want to get a license. So all legal and authorized Spanish betting sites are safe.
So far, all the deposit and withdrawal limits have been set by the gambling house itself, although there was proposed legislation where the state will have its say in both minimum and maximum limits, in order to create a safer gambling environment.
All the yearly net winnings above 1,000 euros made from sports betting should be declared in the tax.
Withdrawal processing times will depend entirely upon the betting site and the preferred payment method. It can range from several minutes to several days. E-wallets are the fastest way to collect your winnings.
Spain offers a huge variety of betting sites and hence it would be impossible to choose the best one. Besides, having a favorite betting site will depend entirely upon the player’s needs. The best betting sites will be safe and legal while providing the best odds and multitude of betting options.
Spain is well-known for great athletes in all sports, therefore Spanish betting sites will offer an incredible range of sports to bet on. The most popular are football, basketball, tennis, horse racing, moto racing, and similar.
Like almost everywhere in the world, football is the favorite sport among Spanish bettors.
In Spain, the decimal system times the money invested is used. For example, if the odds for Barcelona to win are 1.40 and a bettor invests 100e, the winnings are calculated – 1.40 x 100 = 140e.
Some sports betting sites in Spain will offer free bets as a part of bonuses and promotions. While this form of bonus is incredibly popular, not many gambling houses are willing to offer them.
A sign-up, or Welcome Bonus, can be claimed either upon registration or the first deposit, depending on a betting site.
As Spain is one of the leading countries in sports betting, there is a variety of options to choose from when having a gambling problem. For example, Ibiza Calm is a professional treatment facility where people can get help. Also, there are national phone lines for help, as well as seeking help from a psychologist.
🔎 Looking for casino sites? Here are the best casino sites in Spain.
