Spain’s regulated online gambling market recorded another period of expansion in the first quarter of 2026, with gross gaming revenue reaching €454.1 million. The result reflects continued annual growth alongside shifting activity across casino, betting, poker, and bingo verticals, according to data released by the national regulator.

Casino activity strengthens its position in overall revenue mix

Online casino remained the primary driver of the Spanish digital gambling sector in Q1 2026, generating €247.7 million in revenue. This accounted for 54.5% of total online GGR, confirming its position as the largest segment. The category expanded 21.7% year on year and also recorded a modest 2.4% increase compared with the previous quarter.

Within casino, slots and live roulette provided the strongest momentum. Slots increased by 22.6% year on year, while live roulette rose by 23.5%. The broader shift placed casino ahead of other verticals not only in revenue terms but also in overall contribution to market structure.

Sports betting ranked second with €174.4 million in revenue, representing 38.4% of total GGR. Growth in this segment remained more limited at 5.1% year on year. However, internal distribution within betting changed notably. In-play wagering increased by 34.4%, while pre-match betting declined by 18.2%. Poker produced €28.2 million, up 10.8% year on year, while bingo remained stable at €3.6 million with a slight decline of 0.4%.

Operator data showed a licensing base of 77 companies, with 64 holding at least one active licence across casino, betting, poker, bingo, and contest categories. Casino accounted for the largest share of active licences, reinforcing its dominant revenue position.

Betting shifts toward in-play formats while quarterly revenue softens

Total online gambling revenue in Spain increased 13.9% year on year compared with Q1 2025, which stood at €398.1 million. Despite this annual improvement, the quarter-on-quarter comparison showed a 6.4% decline from Q4 2025, a pattern consistent with seasonal fluctuations in the market.

Sports betting’s internal structure continued to evolve. Growth in live betting contrasted with reduced engagement in pre-match wagering, suggesting that player activity is increasingly concentrated around real-time markets. Horse racing contributed a minor increase of 0.7%, while other bet types recorded stronger growth in certain niche categories.

The broader sports betting segment remains influenced by seasonal scheduling effects, with the final quarter of the previous year benefiting from a more intensive sporting calendar. Even with this quarterly decline, year-on-year growth remained positive across the segment.

Poker maintained its recovery trajectory following a weaker prior year, supported by gains in both tournament and cash game activity. Bingo remained the smallest vertical, with limited movement compared with other categories.

Marketing investment expands as affiliate share remains visible

Marketing expenditure in Q1 2026 rose 12% year on year to €184.7 million. Spending was distributed across promotions, advertising, affiliates, and sponsorship activities.

Promotions and bonuses accounted for €91 million, followed by €73.85 million allocated to advertising. Affiliate marketing represented €17.4 million, while sponsorship activity accounted for €2.6 million.

Deposits in the market increased to €1.59 billion, reflecting a 17.6% year-on-year rise, while withdrawals also moved higher to €184.7 million. This growth in player financial activity aligned with the broader expansion of the market’s revenue base.

Regulatory context continues to influence operator strategies. Previous restrictions under Royal Decree 958/2020 temporarily limited advertising formats, removed certain bonus structures, and restricted promotional channels. Academic assessments of that period recorded declines in new account creation and wagering volume, alongside reductions in marketing and bonus expenditure. Some of those restrictions were later annulled by the Supreme Court, contributing to a recovery in advertising levels and broader marketing activity in subsequent years.

Current spending patterns reflect a market balancing regulatory requirements with competitive acquisition pressures, particularly as casino-led growth continues to shape operator priorities.

Source:

Spagna, il gioco online cresce del 13,9% nel primo trimestre 2026: il casinò supera la metà del mercato, jamma.it, June 17 2026

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