The Directorate General for the Regulation of Gambling (DGOJ) has released its financial report for Spain’s online gambling market, revealing a gross gaming revenue (GGR) of €346.34 million for the second quarter of 2024. This figure marks a 10.79% increase compared to the same period last year, although it represents a slight decline of 1.24% from the first quarter of 2024. The report highlights significant growth in the casino and betting segments, alongside notable increases in active accounts and marketing expenditures.
Casino Segment Dominates the Market
Spain’s online gambling market continues to be led by the casino segment, which accounted for 49.57% of the total GGR in Q2 2024. This segment saw a year-on-year growth of 14.57%, reaching €171.69 million. Slots and live roulette were particularly strong performers, with slots experiencing a 19.5% increase in GGR. Live roulette also showed promise, despite some fluctuations in earnings.
The betting segment followed closely, contributing 42% to the total GGR. Betting revenue reached €145.48 million, marking a 9.13% increase from the same period in 2023. Pre-match football betting saw a decline, but in-play bets and other betting categories showed significant growth. Poker and bingo, while smaller segments, also contributed to the overall GGR, with poker generating €25.56 million and bingo €3.61 million.
Growth in Active Accounts and Marketing Expenditures
The second quarter of 2024 saw a substantial increase in the number of active accounts and gamblers. The monthly average of active accounts rose by 23.65% to 1,401,634, while active gamblers increased by 22.11%, reaching 942,805. The number of new accounts surged by 46.57%, totaling 150,677, although the number of new gamblers fell by 5.15%.
Marketing expenditure in Q2 2024 totaled €120.21 million, reflecting a 6.59% quarter-on-quarter increase. Promotions accounted for the largest share of this expenditure, followed by advertising, affiliate marketing, and sponsorships. Sponsorship spending saw the most significant increase, rising by 24.64% compared to the previous quarter.
Operator Activity and Market Dynamics
At the end of Q2 2024, Spain had 78 licensed operators in the online gambling market. Among these, 50 were active in the casino segment, 42 in betting, 9 in poker, 4 in bingo, and 2 in contests. The total turnover in Spain’s online gambling market during this period amounted to €8.26 billion, marking a 7.76% year-on-year increase.
Casino operations accounted for the majority of this turnover, with €4.99 billion. Betting saw the highest growth rate, with a turnover of €2.55 billion, representing a 10.73% increase. The report also noted significant legislative changes, including the Spanish Supreme Court’s recent decision to overturn several 2020 advertising regulations, which could impact future marketing strategies.
