Spain Casino Bonuses

Many casino enthusiasts prefer to gamble online because web-based casinos often offer generous promotions to both newcomers and long-time patrons. Under a revised draft Royal Decree on Gambling Advertising, Spanish licensees may extend promotions only to players who have an account at the specific casino for at least 30 days and have verified their identity. Therefore, casino operators have to concentrate on retaining their existing players rather than luring new ones.

In addition, promotional offers must be displayed in a separate section and be directed exclusively to current players. Operators should not provide customized promotions to casino registrants who raise their deposit limits within the first 30 days. Nevertheless, they can award such players general bonuses.

Gambling is a popular form of entertainment in Spain. Offline gambling was legalized in 1977, and since then the country’s land-based gambling industry has thrived. Today, there are over 50 licensed brick-and-mortar casinos in Spain, welcoming both tourists and locals. These land-based casinos fall under the regulatory scope of the 17 autonomous regions, each of which has its own licensing regime. Before a region can award a casino license, it must conduct a public tender.

Unfortunately, Spain took a long time to regulate the online gambling industry. The first piece of legislation concerning online gambling was introduced in 2006 and covered only online sports betting. Initially, the provision of online sports betting was subject to a monopoly held by the state-owned lottery companies Loterías y Apuestas del Estado and La ONCE. The European Union, however, reprimanded the country for violating EU rules on free trade within the EEA.

In 2011, Spanish lawmakers passed the Spanish Gambling Act, or Law 13/2011, which regulates all forms of internet gambling. Under the new regulations, iGaming operators must obtain a license from the country’s regulator before they can accept players from Spain.

The General Directorate for the Regulation of Gambling Activities (DGOJ) is the authority responsible for issuing licenses. Casino operators that wish to enter the Spanish market must secure both a General and a Singular license, depending on the types of games they intend to offer. The General license is valid for 10 years, while the Singular license expires 3 to 5 years after it is granted.

Applicants must meet numerous requirements. For example, the company must be registered in an EEA country. In addition, operators must redirect Spanish players to .es gambling websites and implement an internal monitoring system to track financial transactions.

The DGOJ has invested considerable effort in combating illegal gambling operations. Unlicensed operators are not allowed to advertise their products or target players from Spain. Those who violate the law may face a hefty fine of up to €50,000,000.