New player registrations in Spain’s online gambling market have plummeted by more than half over the past three years, following strict advertising rules and the elimination of welcome bonuses introduced in 2020.
According to a study published by the Harm Reduction Journal on 13 June, the number of new gambling accounts opened in 2023 dropped to 1.35 million, a significant 55% decline from 3.01 million in 2020. The downturn is largely attributed to the Royal Decree implemented between November 2020 and August 2021, which imposed sweeping restrictions on gambling advertising and promotions.
The regulations included a ban on sponsorships, severe limits on TV and radio ads (restricted to 1am-5am), and prohibited celebrity endorsements, as well as gambling promotions on platforms like YouTube. The use of welcome bonuses to attract new players was also outlawed, which is a change the research identifies as a key contributor to the decline in player acquisition.
Data aggregated by the Directorate General for the Regulation of Gambling (DGOJ) reveals that new account registrations fell each year after the rules took effect. The most notable drop occurred in 2022, when sign-ups declined by 35%, falling to 1.37 million from 2.61 million in 2021. By contrast, account growth had risen consistently between 2015 and 2020.
The Royal Decree is estimated to have reduced new sign-ups by 263,000 in Q2 2021 alone, even after adjusting for the effects of COVID-19.
In April 2024, some of these measures were partially reversed by Spain’s Supreme Court, following an appeal by the Spanish Digital Gaming Association. The court annulled provisions such as Article 13, allowing operators to once again market to new users. Also overturned were Article 15, which banned celebrity appearances in ads, and the restriction on gambling ads on video-sharing platforms.
Despite the steep decline in new account openings, player deposits continued to grow, climbing from €2.19 billion in 2020 to €3.18 billion in 2023. Betting activity also increased, with the total wagered amount rising from €20.75 billionin 2020 to €26.5 billion in 2023. A brief dip in 2022 saw bets fall to €25.25 billion, slightly down from €25.33 billionthe year prior.
However, the journal noted that while deposit and wagering figures rose, they fell short of pre-regulation forecasts, suggesting a long-term dampening effect caused by the advertising and bonusing restrictions. Deposit growth slowed after Q2 2021, with a gradual decline observed over the following two years.
Advertising spend mirrored this trend. Total ad spend dropped from €193.7 million in 2020 to €191.7 million in 2021, then fell 39% to €116.5 million in 2022, before edging back up to €122.8 million in 2023.
Bonusing and sponsorship expenditures followed suit:
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Bonuses fell from €189.5 million (2020) to €165.9 million (2023).
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Sponsorships dropped sharply from €25.76 million (2020) to €2.67 million (2022), recovering slightly to €3.59 million in 2023.
The data shows how regulatory changes have reshaped Spain’s online gambling market, curbing aggressive marketing tactics and reshaping player behavior, especially among first-time users.
