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What it is

Rules for gambling and betting across Spain

BOE step 7 of 7 · Passed

It is a government bill. Introduced by the Government. It was introduced on 4 February 2011. Introduced by: Gobierno.

Official title: Government bill on gambling regulation.

Follow this law

Source: Congreso de los Diputados, file 121/000109· updated 11 Nov

Automatic summary, not yet reviewed

  1. The law regulates gambling with nationwide scope, especially gambling done over the internet, phone or other electronic channels. It aims to protect public order, fight fraud, prevent addiction and protect minors and participants.
  2. Minors, legally incapacitated people and those who voluntarily request a gambling ban may not gamble. Nor may those who run the games, or athletes, coaches and referees involved in events people bet on.
  3. Organizing games requires a prior license or authorization. Running gambling without one is a prohibited activity and can be punished. Statewide lotteries are reserved for the State Lottery and Betting Society (Sociedad Estatal Loterías y Apuestas del Estado) and ONCE.
  4. The National Gambling Commission (Comisión Nacional del Juego Public body that oversees the gambling sector: it grants permits, inspects and sanctions.) is created, an independent regulator attached to the Ministry of Economy and Finance. It authorizes, supervises, controls and sanctions gambling, manages sector registries and pursues illegal gambling.
  5. Participants have rights: clear information on the rules, collecting prizes, filing complaints with the Commission, and knowing at all times how much they have wagered. Operators may not lend money or extend credit to players.
  6. A sanction system is set with very serious, serious and minor offenses. Fines range from €100,000 up to €50 million, and in very serious cases the license can be lost or the activity shut down. Illegal gambling reaching Spain online can also be blocked.
  7. A tax on gambling activities is created, with rates between 10% and 25% depending on the type of game. Autonomous Communities receive the revenue from their residents' gambling and may raise rates by up to 20% more.
  8. Only operators authorized for advertising in their enabling title may advertise gambling. Media outlets must check that authorization before running gambling ads.

Who it affects

  • Gambling companies and operators: They need licenses and authorizations to operate, must meet technical requirements, and can face fines of up to €50 million.
  • Players and participants: They have recognized rights, such as collecting prizes and filing complaints, but minors and people listed in the ban registries may not gamble.
  • Minors and people with gambling addiction: Their access to gambling is banned, and registries are created to enforce it.
  • Media and advertisers: They may only advertise games from licensed operators and can be sanctioned if they ignore cease-and-desist orders.
  • Autonomous Communities: They take part in regulation, report on licenses affecting their territory, and receive part of the new tax revenue.

Words worth knowing

Título habilitante
The official license or authorization needed to legally organize gambling.
Comisión Nacional del Juego
Public body that oversees the gambling sector: it grants permits, inspects and sanctions.
Régimen sancionador
The set of rules stating which conduct is an offense and what fines or penalties it carries.
Homologación
Official review and approval of the technical systems and equipment used for gambling.
Juego responsable
Principles for gambling without harm: protecting vulnerable people, informing players and preventing addiction.

It summarizes the law as published in the BOE. It is written by artificial intelligence and may contain mistakes: the official text is what counts. Read the official text · How we make summaries

Where it stands

How far did it get?

It took 7 of 7 steps. It reached BOE, and today it is passed.

  1. Introduced4 February 2011Someone registers the text in the Congreso.
  2. Admitted8 February 2011The Bureau of the Congreso accepts it and, for a members’ bill, the plenary decides whether to consider it.
  3. Amendments11 February 2011Groups propose changes.
  4. Committee22 March 2011A committee goes through the text in detail.
  5. Plenaryno dateAll 350 deputies vote.
  6. Senate12 April 2011The Senate can pass it, amend it or veto it.
  7. BOE12 May 2011It is published in the Official State Gazette (BOE) and comes into force.
See the 9 official steps on a timeline
Feb 2011Mar 2011Apr 201111. 4 February 2011: Presentación22. 8 February 2011: Comisión de Economía y Hacienda Publicación desde 08/02/2011 hasta 11/02/201133. 8 February 2011: Calificación44. 11 February 2011: Comisión de Economía y Hacienda Enmiendas desde 11/02/2011 hasta 22/03/201155. 22 March 2011: Comisión de Economía y Hacienda Informe desde 22/03/2011 hasta 05/04/201166. 5 April 2011: Comisión de Economía y Hacienda Aprobación con competencia legislativa plena desde 05/04/2011 hasta 12/04/201177. 12 April 2011: Senado desde 12/04/2011 hasta 04/05/201188. 4 May 2011: Pleno Enmiendas o veto del Senado desde 04/05/2011 hasta 12/05/201199. 12 May 2011: Concluido - (Aprobado con modificaciones) desde 12/05/2011 hasta 21/06/2011

Was there a plenary vote?

We have no plenary vote linked to this law in the Congreso’s data.

What happens next

What happens now?

It is law, or will be once published in the BOE. It comes into force on the date its own text sets.

Published in the BOE: Law 13/2011, of 27 May, on the regulation of gambling.

Sources

Where does all this come from?

  • The data comes from the open files of the Congreso, the Senate and the BOE, unaltered.
  • Each deputy’s province is the one of their seat on the day of the vote.
  • We only say “passed” or “rejected” when the majority needed is certain; otherwise we say which side had more votes.

Read the full method · Report an error