Online gambling regulation in Spain

Prohibited. Law 13/2011 (general advertising prohibition without authorisation) and Royal Decree 958/2020 on commercial communications; read together with General Advertising Law 34/1988.

Commercial communications to Spanish residents by entities without a Spanish licence are expressly forbidden; applies to affiliates, media and platforms as well as operators.

Dirección General de Ordenación del Juego (DGOJ), Ministry of Consumer Affairs — www.ordenacionjuego.es

Law 13/2011 of 27 May on the regulation of gambling, as amended; Royal Decree 958/2020 on commercial communications of gambling activities.

Online casino: Licensed. Online sports betting: Licensed.

The regulator publishes a register of licensed operators. DGOJ publishes a public list of licensed operators (general and singular licences) on its official website.

https://www.ordenacionjuego.es

• ISP/domain blocking of unlicensed sites
• Payment blocking for transactions with unlicensed operators
• Fines and licence suspension for operators/affiliates breaching rules
• Criminal liability for promotion of unlicensed gambling

• Commercial communications only for licensed operators with DGOJ authorisation; unlicensed advertising prohibited
• TV/radio and video-sharing gambling ads restricted to 01:00–05:00 safe-harbour window
• Ban on celebrities, athletes or public figures likely to attract minors in gambling ads
• Mandatory responsible‑gambling warnings and clear bonus/terms disclosures in all ads

• Supreme Court 2024 partially annulled elements of RD 958/2020 on bonuses and some marketing, though core restrictions (e.g. 01:00–05:00) remain
• New 2026 measures further restrict influencer partnerships, live sports advertising and use of athletes in marketing, effective March 2026
• Ongoing enforcement with substantial fines against online operators for advertising and RG breaches reported through at least H1 2024

• Exact article numbers for unlicensed-advertising prohibitions within Law 13/2011 and RD 958/2020 not fully confirmed in the consulted extracts
• Precise criminal-code provisions and maximum prison terms for promotion of unlicensed gambling not fully verified in primary legislation
• Whether Spain treats paid loot boxes/mystery boxes as gambling, consumer products, or a regulated hybrid.
• Whether Spain classifies real-money prediction markets as gambling or as financial derivatives under CNMV/Bank of Spain rules.
• Whether sweepstakes/social casino operators can legally target Spain without a gambling licence.

1. igamingpulse.media/en/article/spain-gambling-advertising-restrictions-2026
2. ordenacionjuego.es/cmis/browser?id=workspace://SpacesStore/292cbe26-081b-44c2-8632-f5e42850ae58
3. postaffiliatepro.com/blog/dgoj-gambling-affiliate-regulations/
4. ordenacionjuego.es/sites/default/files/files/news//171130_rd_publicidad_juego_informacion_publica_2017_main_en.pdf
5. ordenacionjuego.es/sites/default/files/files/news//171130_rd_publicidad_del_juego_informacion_publica_2017_en.pdf
6. chambers.com/downloads/gpg/952/035_spain.pdf
7. gamblingcompliance.vixio.com/sites/default/files/inline-files/Decree%20958-2020%20en.pdf
8. g-regs.com/downloads/SPGamblingRegLaw13_2011b.pdf
9. worldpokerdeals.com/blog/online-poker-in-spain-as-a-non-resident-where-to-roll
10. riverodds.app/poker-in-spain/
11. highrollpoker.com/guides/spain-online-poker-guide
12. pokerrankings.eu/go/spain-en/article/legal-info/
13. eupoker.com/spain-poker-regulations/
14. pokerlistings.com/online-poker-spain
15. igaming-atlas.com/countries/spain
16. gamblingmaps.org/map/regulations/spain
17. portal-cec.consumo.gob.es/en/comunicacion/noticias/2026/ministry-consumer-affairs-has-launched-disciplinary-proceedings-against
18. polymarket.com/predictions/spain
19. startpolymarket.com/countries/spain/
20. cointelegraph.com/news/spain-blocks-polymarket-kalshi-gambling-laws
21. finance.yahoo.com/markets/options/articles/spain-blocks-prediction-markets-kalshi-191411102.html
22. blog.empiredrop.com/mystery-box-laws-by-country-where-are-they-legal/
23. qualitativecriminology.com/from-valve-to-soft2bet-an-investigation-into-loot-boxes-video-game-compliance-and-igaming-regulation
24. betterchecked.com/review/earnlab-test-review
25. sweepsy.com/mystery-box/
26. betterchecked.com/review/cases-gg-review-this-year-how-to-win-big-with-case-battles-and-free-play-460ddc92

Researched 2026-09-21 from public sources and summarised by the Brandfense team. Not legal advice — confirm with the regulator or your counsel before acting.