Online poker is legal in Spain under Law 13/2011, which regulates all forms of gambling at the national level and requires operators to obtain licenses from the Dirección General de Ordenación del Juego (1). The DGOJ, operating under the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, issues licenses for online poker with general licenses valid for 10 years and singular licenses valid for 3 to 5 years (2). Licensed operators must be registered in the European Economic Area, maintain a minimum EUR 2 million financial guarantee, and operate under a .es domain.
Spain participates in a shared liquidity agreement signed on July 6, 2017 with France, Italy, and Portugal, allowing Spanish poker players to compete against players from these jurisdictions on licensed platforms (1). Major poker operators including PokerStars and partypoker are available to Spanish players, paying a 20% tax on Gross Gaming Revenue, which reduces to 10% for operators based in Ceuta or Melilla (2). The regulatory framework ensures player protection through strict technical requirements, KYC protocols, AML compliance, and real-time monitoring systems.
"The purpose of this Law is to regulate gambling activities, in their different forms, which are carried out at State-level, in order to ensure the protection of public order, combat fraud, prevent addictive behaviour, protect the rights of minors and safeguard the rights of players."
Land-based poker is available at casinos regulated by Spain's 17 autonomous communities, each with distinct licensing requirements, tax rates, and operational rules (2). Operators offering both online and land-based poker must comply with both national DGOJ regulations and regional requirements specific to their physical location (1). Companies failing to comply face severe penalties including blacklist inclusion, fines exceeding EUR 50 million, permanent license revocation, and potential criminal prosecution for fraud or AML breaches.
Source:
https://www.ordenacionjuego.es/sites/default/files/files/news/memoria_del_proyecto_en.pdf
https://www.softswiss.com/gambling-regulation-map/spain/
Last updated: 10-10-2025 Disclaimer: This article does not provide legal advice. If you need legal advice, please contact an attorney directly.
