Growth in Spain’s Gambling Industry in Q3 2024

Casino and Sports Betting Top the List

The overall market saw gross gaming revenue (GGR) of €326.3m, up 14.4% on 2023 and 0.5% on the previous quarter.

Casino was the biggest contributor to GGR, with €176.8m, or 54% of the total. Up 17% on 2023 and solidifying its position as the main revenue generator.

Sports betting was second, with €134m, 39.1% of the total. Down on Q2 2024, but up 19.8% on Q3 2023.

Other verticals were mixed:

• Poker was €19.4m, down 23.5% on 2023 and still in decline.
• Bingo was €3.6m, up 1.7% on 2023.

The figures are based on the 77 licensed operators in Spain.

More Players and Marketing Spend

The DGOJ report showed a big increase in player activity in Q3 2024. Players deposited €1.1bn, up 23.9% on 2023 and players withdrew €844.2m, up 30.3% on 2023. 459,543 new gambling accounts were opened, up 42.4% on Q3 2023 and total accounts now stand at 1.44m.

But the DGOJ pointed out that these figures don’t necessarily mean the number of individual players as many have accounts with multiple operators.

Operators increased their marketing spend, collectively spending €126m. This included:

• €13m on affiliation costs
• €1.4m on sponsorships
• €70m on promotions
• €52m on advertising

This shows the competitive nature of the market and operators getting players and retaining them.

Regulatory News

In the midst of growth, Spain’s Ministry of Social Rights, Consumer Affairs, and the 2030 Agenda published regulatory activity in H1 2024.

15 online gambling operators were fined, totalling €69m. This is the government’s ongoing commitment to compliance and the integrity of the industry.

Spain’s gambling industry is showing its strength and flexibility in Q3 2024 with marketing and regulation.

But poker revenue decline means diversification and innovation is needed to keep the growth going.