Spain’s rich history in sports is paired with an active betting scene of more than 1.6 million players. Thanks to a well established regulation, there are 70+ licensed brands, most notable being Betfair, Sportium and Bwin.
However, all local sites come with a significant disadvantage, which is the lack of Welcome Bonuses. This combined with increased taxation on winnings has pushed players towards offshore bookies which have no such restrictions and are widely available.
In this guide you will find the best Spanish betting sites available, how to join them safely along with all the legal details you need to know about the regulation. Let’s start with our 3 highest-rated bookies.
Bookmaker Comparison | Local Licensed | International |
Licensing | Dirección General de Ordenación del Juego | Malta, Curacao, Kahnawake and other international regulators |
Payments | Debit and credit cards, PayPal, Teleingreso and local bank transfers | Debit Cards, Credit Cards, E-wallets, Cryptos, 30+ Other Options |
User Experience | Fully localized for Spanish users (language, currency) | Supports Spanish but varies in quality |
KYC Verification | Mandatory | Depending on the website |
Taxation | 20% on Winnings | No Taxation |
Spain is one of the European countries with the toughest laws when it comes to online gambling. KYC is challenging and the taxation rates are pretty high. This is why many players have transferred to international betting sites to enjoy the relaxed restrictions.
Full List of Betting Sites in Spain
How to Find the Best Spanish Bookmakers
Locals have been avid gamblers for years. This is why they demand a lot from sportsbooks where they place their wagers. For that reason, online betting sites in Spain must rank highly in all the following categories:
Sports & Markets
Of course, high odds and thorough coverage of the most popular sports, including football, basketball, and tennis, are key. However, locals also enjoy betting on niche sports such as padel or cycling.
Live Betting
In-play wagering gets the lion's share of online betting in Spain. More people prefer playing after a match starts. This is why your bookmaker must also offer competitive live prices alongside a wide range of selections on all your favorite sports.
Features
It is no secret that betting features have become essential parts of most player’s strategies. Settling your wagers early with Cash Out or watching a match with Live Streaming before deciding your next moves are just a few examples. You need sites that provide an array of services to choose from.
Payments
The transaction methods locals are mostly interested in are credit cards, debit cards, and e-wallets like PayPal, Skrill, and Neteller. However, there are some rare ones, like Klarna or Teleingresso, that many Spanish people use daily.
Local Options
Luckily, all online bookies will offer local currency as an option to top up your account, so you will not have to pay any conversion fees. As a bonus, many operators allow you to navigate the sites in Spanish.
What You Need to Know About Online Betting in Spain
Active Players | Legal Age | Local Currency | Player Protection |
2,500,000 | 18+ | Euro (€) | DGOJ |
In 2006, the Spanish government passed its first internet gambling laws that legalized sports betting both online and in licensed betting outlets. Today, only the lottery, operated by SELAE and ONCE, works as a monopoly in the country. Note that the legal age for gambling in Spain is 18 for all forms of gambling.
Is Sports Betting Legal in Spain?
The 2011 Spanish Gambling Act forms the backbone of the entire country’s gambling industry, regulating online gambling in both physical and digital forms. However, since then, the overseeing authorities have tightened the restrictions on Spanish betting sites.
More specifically, since 2021, new users cannot claim betting bonuses when registering with licensed operators. Only loyalty offers are available to players who made more than three deposits and registered over a month ago.
Do I Have to Pay Taxes on My Winnings?
Until 2018, the gambling tax on winnings was 25% of the total profit. However, the government decided to reduce it by 5%, making it 20%, which is in line with many other European countries. Note that this percentage only applies to winnings over €2,500. If you win less than this amount yearly, your profits will be tax-free.
What Are The Limitations of Local Spain Bookmakers?
From all the information above, it is evident that licensed bookmakers in the country come with certain downsides, especially when compared to the loose restrictions of offshore betting sites in Spain. The first is related to the welcome bonuses. After all, playing with extra money is very appealing. The second is the high taxation enforced by the local authorities. This has led many users to opt for international bookies.
What Betting Apps Can I Use In Spain?
Many licensed operators in the country have developed mobile applications to enrich the player’s betting experience. You can easily visit the official websites, download them, and install them on your smartphone, as long as your software is compatible with the latest updates. If you want to learn more, check out our guide about the best mobile bookmakers in Spain.
A Brief History of Online Betting in Spain
After the political scene stabilized, online sports betting flourished. It is estimated that the market revenue will reach $0.94 billion in 2024 and steadily grow 5% annually until 2030. As you can imagine, some sports, like football, basketball, and tennis, hold the lion’s share of the locals’ interest.
Football
It is no surprise that the most popular sport for online betting in Spain is football. The national team has dominated world football for over 20 years. In addition, the domestic championship, the La Liga, features some of the best teams in the world and draws attention from both locals and international bettors. This is why the best football bookmakers pay close attention to La Liga.
Tennis
Even though not too many Spanish people play tennis, more than a third of the population is interested in watching and, as a result, betting on it. Tennis legends like Rafa Nadal, Manuel Santana, Manuel Orantes, Juan Carlos Ferrero, and Carlos Alcaraz have cemented the sport's popularity for many decades now. Whether it’s an ATP match or a lower-tier Challengers Cup, you’ll still be able to wager with up to 96% odds at international sportsbooks.
Basketball
Spain is also host to one of the most competitive basketball leagues in the world, ACB. The national team has also won multiple Olympic medals, World Championships, and Eurobasket tournaments, skyrocketing the locals’ interest over the sport. Moreover, teams like Real Madrid and Barcelona always make it to the Final 4 in the Euroleague, with dozens of trophies among them. Based on all this data, you can see why many players in Spain are looking for basketball betting markets.
Cycling
The interest in cycling betting in Spain is highly associated with participation in the sport. It is estimated that one in five people cycles monthly. This has translated to many players looking for cycling markets in Spanish betting sites. On the downside, most international bookies somewhat overlook cycling due to most users' limited interest.
How To Bet Online in Spain - Step By Step
Opening a new account with an online bookie and placing your wagers is easy, even if you have never done it before. In most operators, you only need to follow the steps below:
- 1 Choose a Bookie: Browse the list of online Spain bookmakers and choose a site that best suits your needs. To make your life easier, we have already reviewed them all; you can see their score on our bookmaker ratings page.
- 2 Register an Account: Once you have picked a bookmaker, tap on the link that will take you to the official website. The first step is to open a new betting account by adding your personal details.
- 3 Top up your account: After you have logged in to your new account, go to the cashier and choose a payment option to fund it. Remember that licensed operators will not include a welcome bonus in the offering.
- 4 Start betting: After you have a funded balance, you are free to navigate the website and choose the sport and market you want to stake your money on. If you only want to bet on a handful of sports, you can save them under your favorites tab so you can find them immediately every time you enter the website.
Which Are the Top Payments Spanish Bettors Use?
After the Spanish Gambling Act was passed in 2011, it became easier to fund your account and withdraw money on Spanish betting sites. You can use any payment method you would typically use to purchase online. Of course, the bookmaker deposit methods vary depending on the site. Let’s look at the most prominent transaction options that Spanish betting sites offer.
⏩ Credit and Debit Cards: Much like for their everyday purchases, most players choose cards to top up their gambling accounts. The process is faster, there are no extra fees, and winnings can be proven, if requested, easily.
⏩ Teleingreso: This is a unique payment method used in Spain where you can use your card or cash to make deposits through designated ATMs throughout the country. This option ensures a higher level of anonymity, especially if you pay in cash.
⏩ E-wallets: PayPal is the most commonly used e-wallet for gambling in Spain. Other than that, many bettors top up their accounts with other digital wallets, including Apple Pay, Google Pay, and Klarna.
How Can I Use Teleingreso to Top Up My Account?
Yes. The fact that Spanish people use this method so much for all everyday purchases has led some online betting sites in Spain, both licensed and international, to add Teleingreso as an option to add funds to one’s account. However, we are still in the early stages, and only a handful of operators, namely Betsson, are offering it for payments.
Can I Use Cryptocurrencies to Make Payments?
Yes. The local authorities have not restricted the use of cryptocurrencies, such as Bitcoin, Tether, or Ethereum, for online betting in Spain. You can use them to perform transactions as long as your bookmaker accepts them as a form of payment. Note that many users in the country choose to register and bet on international crypto bookmakers to keep their gambling activities under the radar.
Online Betting in Spain: What Does the Future Hold
The new set of rules enacted over the last few years in Spain made an already strict environment for regulated betting sites in Spain even harsher. Banning welcome bonuses and severely limiting bookmakers' marketing on TV and radio drove away a big chunk of players and operators looking to gain a local license.
However, the backlash has already led to fewer restrictions regarding TV ads around gambling, which makes us think that the authorities might reconsider their decisions on all the harsh measures. Nevertheless, at this time, many players prefer placing their wagers on international Spanish bookmakers. Luckily, the state has no history of persecuting players for betting on non-regulated bookies.
Gambling in the Neighbouring Countries
If you are in Spain, gambling may be available and regulated, with access to some unlicensed bookies. But how does it compare to neighbouring countries? What about Mexico, where players might share the same localised content? Let's take a look at some of these countries for a better insight into the situation and to ensure we are adhering to the law:
⏩ Mexico: the Mexican Federal Law of Games governs all forms of gambling within the country, although the regulation of online betting remains partially implemented. While several bookmakers have obtained local licenses, a significant number of players seek Mexican betting sites that adopt an independent approach, prioritizing alternative regulatory frameworks.
⏩ Portugal: is another EU member that has fully regulated its gambling market both online and on land. However, high taxation and strict compliance measures have pushed locals to access unlicensed and illegal operators. Portugal betting sites comprise only 11 bookies that are locally licensed.
⏩ Gibraltar: gives international Tier-1 licenses for online bookmakers. Being a British overseas territory, companies that hold a Gibraltar license can also operate in the UK. This makes betting sites in Gibraltar safe for players and offers taxation incentives for operators.
Yes, since 2011 and the introduction of the Spanish Gambling Act, the online betting market has been fully regulated. Several world-famous bookmakers have been granted a license, while several international ones also accept locals.
The most popular payment options for gambling in Spain are debit or credit cards, as well as e-wallets, namely PayPal and Skrill. However, we have noticed lately that many users also choose crypto transactions to ensure anonymity.
There are two main categories when ranking the best betting sites in Spain: regulated and not. The former include giants like bet365 and Betfair, which operate legally. Others have chosen to accept Spaniards even though they stay out of reach of the regulatory body. Check out the BC.game sportsbook reviewfor an example of an off-shore crypto bookie.
Yes. Spanish authorities are very strict when it comes to gambling winnings. There have been many incidents where individuals have been fined for failing to report profits in their annual income.
The Dirección General de Ordenación del Juego is known to be one of the strictest authorities overseeing betting. Therefore, Spanish bookmakers with a local license have excellent security. On the other hand, the unregulated bookies we list also have a proven track record of reliability, but you should always be cautious.
Creating a new account with any online betting site in Spain is simple. After choosing the sportsbook you are interested in, go to the official website and click the Register button. All operators will ask you to input your details, such as address, phone number, email, and more. Our advice is to verify your account before placing any wagers.