Spanish Gambling Industry Witnesses 51% Growth in Q1 2023

The Directorate General for the Regulation of Gambling (DGOJ) in Spain has released its newest report, which sheds light on the country’s gaming sector’s amazing rise during the first quarter of 2023. The business has proved its endurance and vitality, with gross gambling revenue (GGR) reaching a stunning €304.9 million ($332.9 million), a 51% increase year on year. Although GGR fell by 2.7% compared to the previous quarter, the overall trend remains very strong.

During the first quarter, the online casino category stole the show, demonstrating substantial growth and contributing an amazing €143.3 million ($156.3 million) to overall GGR. This figure represents a stunning annual increase of 29.1%, highlighting the growing popularity of online casino gaming among Spanish players. Meanwhile, the betting industry saw a significant increase, with income more than tripling to €130.6 million ($142.5 million).

Poker fans will be thrilled to see that revenue in the poker category increased by 24.9% to €27.3 million ($29.7 million) during the first quarter. Furthermore, contest revenue increased by an astounding 730.4%, rising to €250,000 ($272,818) from €30,000 in the same period last year. The bingo section, on the other hand, suffered a modest setback, with revenue falling 6.6% to €3.3 million ($3.6 million).

According to the report, operators spent €93.3 million ($101.8 million) on marketing expenses, a 0.8% decline from the previous year. Promotions accounted for more than half of this budget, with €50.1 million spent on recruiting and maintaining clients. Advertising costs reached €30 million, while affiliation costs totaled €11.8 million. Interestingly, sponsorship fees defied the trend, increasing by 93.1% year on year. Advertising expenses, on the other hand, were the most significantly reduced, falling by 12.7%.

The research also revealed a significant 11.0% year-on-year growth in the number of active monthly player accounts, which increased to 1,158,628 in the first quarter of 2023. This increase reflects the rising participation of Spanish players in the active gaming market. Furthermore, the survey emphasized the diverse landscape of the Spanish gaming business, with 78 licensed gambling firms present in the nation.

In accordance with ongoing attempts to adapt to industry advancements and protect vulnerable groups, Alberto Garzón, the Spanish Minister of Consumer Affairs, has directed his ministry to draught technical measures to protect minors from the potential risks linked with loot boxes in video games. This proactive initiative attempts to position Spain as a European pioneer in protecting minors from these randomized in-game transactions, which are frequently compared to gambling.

While the most recent change to Spain’s gaming legislation focused on protecting children, loot boxes were left out. The Ministry of Consumer Affairs, on the other hand, launched a 12-month inquiry into the impact of loot box purchases on children, which resulted in this new guideline.

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