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History of gambling in Spain
Spain has come a unique way, from alternating bans and partial permits in different eras - to a mature, layered ecosystem with national-scale lotteries, regional casinos and a regulated online marketplace. The cultural memory of the people preserves the romance of the El Gordo Christmas draw, the noise of 1980s bingosals, bar "tragaperras" and football quinielas, and the digital era has added online poker, betting and mobile apps.
Until the 19th century: prohibitions, leniency and yard games
In the Middle Ages and early modern times, gambling was either tolerated or banned - depending on the monarch and local customs. Card and bone games lived in taverns and fairgrounds, and religious and moral criticism got along with the practice of informal betting on holidays and bullfighting (although bullfighting itself is not a gambling game).
1812-1936: Birth of the national lottery and mass habits
1812 - The national Christmas lottery, later nicknamed Lotería de Navidad (El Gordo), is launched in Cádiz. It becomes a cultural phenomenon: collective ticket purchases, décimos, the participation of entire neighborhoods and enterprises.
XIX century - consolidation of lotteries as a legitimate source of state revenues. The habit of "playing together" is formed, which carries a social and charitable connotation.
The beginning of the 20th century - regional lotteries and charity draws coexist with the "small" illegal game (card clubs, sweepstakes at the races).
1939-1975: Franco era - strict control and "islands" of admission
The authoritarian state severely restricts private excitement, but retains state lotteries as a manageable tool of fisk and morality.
ONCE (Spain's National Organization of the Blind) develops its lottery as an important social institution by funding inclusion programs.
Private casinos and the broad commercial game are effectively marginalized; the industry freezes in anticipation of change.
1977-1988: democratization, autonomies, and the "bing boom"
The transition to democracy is upending the market:- Legalization and decentralization. After 1977, autonomous communities (Catalonia, Basque Country, Madrid, etc.) received the authority to regulate casinos, bingozals, gaming salons and "máquinas recreativas con premio" - the famous bar "tragaperras."
- Bing boom in the late 1970s and early 1980s: It is the most affordable format, growing rapidly in cities and tourist areas.
- New wave casinos. Flagship venues appear: Barcelona, Torrelodones (Gran Madrid), Marbella, Canary Islands, Balearics, Ceuta and Melilla. Tourism is becoming an important driver of the industry.
1990s - 2000s: offline maturity and the arrival of the Internet
"Tragaperras" finally become part of the bar culture. In parallel, autonomy introduces licensing and control of technical parameters of devices (limits, frequency of winnings, certification).
Lotteries strengthen the position: in addition to Christmas, "Lotería del Niño" and weekly circulations are popular.
The late 1990s are the first online platforms without a clear national framework. The market is "learning" the Internet through gray areas and offshore, while the legal framework is catching up with practice.
After 2011: uniform rules for online and the role of DGOJ
Ley 13/2011 launches modern regulation of online gambling. The national regulator DGOJ (Dirección General de Ordenación del Juego) sets licensing, integrity controls, Responsible Gaming, advertising and payment requirements.
2012 - the first general and specific licenses are issued; the market is emerging from the gray field.
2018 - Spain taps into a pan-European liquidity pool in online poker (with France and Portugal), reinvigorating discipline.
In parallel, autonomy continues to regulate the offline segment: casinos, bingo and salons remain "regional" competence, while online - under the national hat.
Cultural symbols: El Gordo, ONCE and "quinielas"
El Gordo is not just a prank, but a ritual of the end of the year: a television ceremony, joint tickets, stories of "happy quarters."
ONCE is an example of how the lottery can fund social programs while remaining a favorite habit of Spaniards.
Quinielas (football sweepstakes) is a cult format of the 20th century: predicting the outcome of La Liga tours forms a special football and gaming culture.
Responsible play and public legitimacy
Since the late 2000s, the framework of Responsible Gaming has been strengthening: self-restraint, age filters, identity verification, advertising labeling, bonus restrictions and cooperation with NGOs. The Spanish model seeks a balance between freedom of choice, protection of vulnerable groups and stable tax revenues.
Digital Age: Mobile UX, Payments and Content
Mobile-first. The smartphone has become the main channel for betting and online lotteries.
Payments. Cards, local online banking solutions and wallets are common; strict KYC/AML procedures are built into onboarding.
Content. Live betting, streaming video, localised Spanish-themed slots and sporting products around La Liga and Eurocups.
Spain Today: Tiered Ecosystem
1. The public sector (SELAE, ONCE) is a pillar of trust and "rituals."
2. Regional offline - licensed casinos, bingo and salons important for tourism and employment.
3. The national online segment is under the supervision of DGOJ, with stable operators and an understandable advertising frame.
4. Participation culture - joint tickets, "shares," office and family pools for large circulations.
Milestones (timeline)
1812 - Launch of the National Lottery (El Gordo).
1940s-1960s - strengthening lotteries and social draws (including ONCE).
1977-1988 - liberalization, autonomy powers, bing boom and "tragaperras," casino wave.
1990s - offline maturity, first digital experiments.
2011-2012 - online gaming law and licensing under DGOJ.
2018 - joint liquidity of online poker with EU neighbors.
The history of gambling in Spain is a story of the evolution of trust: from the state ritual of lotteries and local offline - to a transparent online market with clear rules. Lottery traditions, regional diversity and modern digital infrastructure have formed a stable, recognizable and culturally rooted model in which excitement is inscribed in Spanish everyday life - without losing focus on social responsibility.