Spanish online gambling revenue tracks 15.1 per cent higher in Q1
05 June 2024 - 17:53Spain's online gambling sector showed robust growth in the first quarter of the year, with gross revenue reaching €350.7 million. This marks a significant 15.1% increase compared to Q1 2023 and an 11.2% rise from the previous quarter.
According to data released by Spain's gambling regulator, DGOJ, online casinos remained the primary revenue driver, contributing €167.8 million, which accounts for 47.8% of total online gambling revenue. This reflects a 17% increase year-on-year, though it dipped by 2.1% from Q4 2023. Notably, slots saw a 15% surge and roulette enjoyed a notable 22% increase in revenue.
Sports betting also performed strongly, generating €150.3 million, constituting 42.9% of total revenue. This represents a 15.4% increase from the first quarter of 2023 and a significant 31% rise from Q4. Pre-match betting skyrocketed by 588.8%, while in-play betting saw a decline of 31.7%. Other bet types experienced a modest 1.6% growth, but horse racing betting revenue decreased by 28.4%.
Poker revenue showed a 4% increase to €28.5 million, representing 8.1% of total revenue, driven by gains in both tournament and cash game revenues. Bingo revenue also surged by 24.9% to €4.2 million, while revenue from contests plummeted by 99.4% to around €2,000.
As of the end of the quarter, Spain counted 78 licensed online gambling operators, with 50 offering online casino games, 41 providing sports betting services, nine hosting poker rooms, four featuring bingo, and two organizing contests. Total deposits rose by 15.9% to €1.09 billion, withdrawals increased by 13.9% to €740 million, and the number of new accounts surged by 33.6% to 446,586.
Marketing expenditures in Q1 also saw a notable uptick, climbing by 14.9% year-on-year to €112.8 million. The breakdown includes €55.7 million spent on promotions, €41.8 million on advertising, €14.3 million on affiliate programs, and €1.1 million on sponsorships.
Recent initiatives by the DGOJ focus on enhancing data management practices, including the establishment of a centralized registry for gambling data. This registry aims to consolidate customer information from all licensed operators, enabling comprehensive oversight of gaming activities across Spain. Discussions are underway to streamline data integration across public administrations and produce detailed reports on gaming trends.