Nikolai Timofejev
15 years in FinTech and payments. Maps your business model to the right licence scope and leads the file all the way to the DGOJ decision, including banking and payment rails.
Get a gambling license in Spain.
Spain licenses online gambling in two layers under Ley 13/2011: a general licence for each modality, valid 10 years and renewable for 10 more, and singular licences for each game type. Getting in is the hard part, because general licences are granted only when a ministerial order opens a call (convocatoria). Real Decreto 520/2026 added two changes this year: the guarantee per general licence rises from €2,000,000 to €2,600,000 on 1 January 2027, and a cross-operator cap on player deposits follows in March 2027. The DGOJ register lists 77 licensed operators.
27 yrs
on the international marketon the market
60+
in-house specialistsspecialists
400+
Licenses obtainedlicenses obtained
Updated
Spain in brief
Two licence layers and a door that opens by call.
Online gambling in Spain is regulated by Ley 13/2011 of 27 May, in force since 29 May 2011, with its consolidated text last updated on 31 December 2022; Real Decreto 1614/2011 is the licensing regulation. The DGOJ, attached to the Ministry of Social Rights, Consumption and 2030 Agenda, licenses and supervises from Madrid. Licensing has two layers. A general licence covers a modality - Apuestas (betting), Otros juegos (other games) or Concursos (contests) - and runs 10 years, renewable for 10 more (art. 10). It is granted only through a public call, a convocatoria opened by ministerial order, and anyone interested may ask for a new call once 18 months have passed since the previous one. Singular licences then cover each game type, such as fixed-odds or exchange betting, slots, roulette, poker or bingo, for one to five years (art. 11). Lotteries stay with SELAE and ONCE.
Entry is heavy and about to get heavier. The applicant is a sociedad anónima whose sole purpose is gaming, seated in the EEA, with a permanent representative in Spain and €100,000 of share capital (€60,000 for contests only). A betting or other-games licence needs a guarantee of €2,000,000 for the initial period (contests €500,000), then €1,000,000 combined in later years. RD 520/2026 of 24 June 2026 lifts those amounts to €2,600,000 and €1,300,000 on 1 January 2027, and adds a joint deposit limit that follows each player across all licensed operators: €700 a day, €1,750 a week and €3,300 over four weeks by default, checked before every deposit from late March 2027. TV and radio ads were already limited to 01:00-05:00, save for the exceptions in art. 18 RD 958/2020, and shirt sponsorship is banned. The DGOJ must resolve an application within 6 months of filing, plus the time its own requests take. Its register lists 77 operators.
Ley 13/2011: general licences per modality, 10 years + 10, granted only by call; singular licences per game type, 1-5 years. €100,000 capital, single-purpose SA, permanent representative, .es domain.
RD 520/2026: guarantee €2M to €2.6M from 1 January 2027, joint deposit caps of €700 / €1,750 / €3,300 from March 2027. Tax: one rate on net revenue.
The two layers
The general licence - then the singular ones.
Every Spanish operator holds both: a general licence for the modality and a singular licence for each game type it offers. Only the first depends on a call.
The general licence by call - then singular licences per game.
01 - GENERAL LICENCE
The modality licence
One general licence per modality - Apuestas, Otros juegos or Concursos - valid 10 years and renewable for 10 more. It is granted only in a convocatoria opened by ministerial order, and it carries the large guarantee.
One general licence per modality - Apuestas, Otros juegos or Concursos - valid 10 years and renewable for 10 more. It is granted only in a convocatoria opened by ministerial order, and it carries the large guarantee.
- ✓Apuestas · Otros juegos · Concursos
- ✓10 years + 10 (art. 10)
- ✓Granted only through a call
- ✓€100,000 share capital
- ✓€2M guarantee, €2.6M from 2027
- ✓Single-purpose SA, EEA seat
02 - SINGULAR LICENCES
1-5 yearsOne per game type
Singular licences sit under the general licence: fixed-odds and exchange betting, slots, roulette, blackjack, poker, bingo. General-licence holders apply for them outside the calls, for one to five years, with guarantees set as a share of the previous year's revenue.
Singular licences per game type, 1-5 years, applied for outside the calls; guarantees 1.5%-8% of last year's revenue.
- ✓One licence per game type
- ✓1-5 years, renewable (art. 11)
- ✓Applied for outside the calls
- ✓Guarantee 8% of net on casino games
- ✓6.5% of net on fixed-odds sports
- ✓Lost with the general licence
Costs and timelines are confirmed for your case before any work begins. The art. 49 administrative fee and the guarantee instruments are itemised in your quote, and we confirm the call status with the DGOJ when we scope the file.
Why Spain
Ten years per licence, casino included.
Spain is expensive to enter and opens only by call; once inside, an operator holds its general licence for 10 years and can renew it for 10 more.
✓
Ten years, then ten more
General licences run 10 years and renew once (art. 10). In February 2025 the DGOJ renewed a betting licence from the 2011 call for another decade.10-year term, renewable once.
✓
Casino games are licensable
Slots, roulette, blackjack, poker, bingo and punto y banca each have their own singular licence, so the casino offer runs legally on .es.Slots, roulette, poker, bingo.
✓
One tax base
Since Ley 6/2018 the gaming tax is a single rate on net revenue, self-assessed every quarter on modelo 763.Single rate on net revenue.
✓
A six-month clock
The DGOJ must resolve within 6 months of filing, plus whatever time its requests take to answer.Plus time answering requests.
✓
EEA companies qualify
Spanish and EEA companies apply directly, with at least one permanent representative in Spain (art. 13).Permanent representative in Spain.
✓
The door opens by call
General licences come only through a convocatoria by ministerial order. A new call can be requested 18 months after the previous one.Convocatoria by ministerial order.
How it compares
How Spain differs from other routes.
Spain asks for a large guarantee up front and gives a 10-year term back.
Spain vs other jurisdictions
| Feature |  Spain | Other jurisdictions |
|---|---|---|
| Entry | Call by ministerial order | Application in Portugal, tender in Italy |
| Licence term | 10 years + 10 | 9 years, no renewal, in Italy |
| Guarantee | €2M, €2.6M from 2027 | €600,000 in Portugal |
| Online casino | Licensable, game by game | Banned in France |
Entry
SpainCall by ministerial order
Other jurisdictionsApplication in Portugal, tender in Italy
Licence term
Spain10 years + 10
Other jurisdictions9 years, no renewal, in Italy
Guarantee
Spain€2M, €2.6M from 2027
Other jurisdictions€600,000 in Portugal
Online casino
SpainLicensable, game by game
Other jurisdictionsBanned in France
Country by country
| Country | License type | Taxation | Requirements |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spain | DGOJ general + singular | Single IAJ rate on net revenue | €100k capital, €2M guarantee (€2.6M from 2027) |
 Portugal | SRIJ casino · betting · bingo | IEJO by category | €600k guarantees, .pt domain |
 Italy | ADM concession by tender | Gaming tax + 3% concession fee | €7M per concession, 9 years |
 Malta | MGA B2C · B2B | 5% eff. + contributions | €100k/€40k capital |
SpainLicense typeDGOJ general + singular
TaxationSingle IAJ rate on net revenue
Requirements€100k capital, €2M guarantee (€2.6M from 2027)
PortugalLicense typeSRIJ casino · betting · bingo
TaxationIEJO by category
Requirements€600k guarantees, .pt domain
ItalyLicense typeADM concession by tender
TaxationGaming tax + 3% concession fee
Requirements€7M per concession, 9 years
MaltaLicense typeMGA B2C · B2B
Taxation5% eff. + contributions
Requirements€100k/€40k capital
Before you apply
Requirements for the Spanish licence.Requirements for the licence.
The DGOJ looks hardest at the company and the money behind it. A file that passes contains the ten items below.
01
Company form - a sociedad anónima or equivalent, domiciled in the EEA, whose sole corporate purpose is organising, marketing and operating games (art. 13).
02
Permanent representative - at least one in Spain, required by art. 13 Ley 13/2011 of Spanish and EEA applicants alike.
03
Share capital - at least €100,000 for betting or other games, or €60,000 where the licence covers contests only.
04
Registrations - entry in the Mercantile Registry and in the special section of the Registro General de Licencias de Juego.
05
General-licence guarantee - €2,000,000 per betting or other-games licence for the initial period, rising to €2,600,000 on 1 January 2027 under RD 520/2026, by cash deposit, bank guarantee, surety insurance or mortgage on Spanish property.
06
Singular-licence guarantees - a percentage of the previous year's revenue, from 1.5% of gross on mutual sports betting to 8% of net on casino games.
07
Domain - a .es site, with connections from Spain redirected to it (art. 10.4).
08
Capacity - the economic, technical and professional-experience requirements on the DGOJ's list, evidenced in full.
09
Joint deposit limits - connection to the cross-operator system in art. 36 bis RD 1614/2011, checked before every deposit once RD 520/2026 applies.
10
AML programme - gaming operators are obliged entities under Ley 10/2010 (art. 2.1.u), with suspicious transactions reported to SEPBLAC.
01
Single-purpose SA, EEA seat.
02
Permanent representative in Spain.
03
€100,000 capital (€60,000 contests).
04
Mercantile + gaming registers.
05
€2M guarantee, €2.6M from 2027.
06
Singular guarantees 1.5%-8%.
07
.es domain, Spain redirected.
08
Capacity and experience shown.
09
Joint deposit limits wired in.
10
AML under Ley 10/2010.
Reflects Ley 13/2011, RD 1614/2011 as amended by RD 520/2026 and DGOJ requirements as of 2026.Ley 13/2011 + RD 1614/2011 (as amended by RD 520/2026), as of 2026.
How it works
From first conversation to the DGOJ register.
01
Modalities and games
Apuestas, Otros juegos or Concursos, and the singular game types under each, fixed in writing first.Fixed in writing.
02
Company and guarantee
Single-purpose SA with €100,000 of capital and its permanent representative. The €2,000,000 guarantee lined up with a bank or insurer.€100k capital, €2M lined up.
03
The call
The general-licence file goes in when a ministerial order opens a convocatoria. We confirm the call status with the DGOJ at the outset.Filed when one opens.
04
DGOJ review
Resolution within 6 months of filing, plus the time spent on DGOJ requests. We plan for 6-9 months from filing.6 months + requests.
05
Singular licences and launch
Singular licences for each game type, then the .es site goes live with the first quarterly modelo 763 return diarised..es live, modelo 763.
Quick facts
RegulatorDGOJ
FrameworkLey 13/2011 · RD 1614/2011
General licence10 years + 10
Singular licence1-5 years, renewable
Share capital€100,000
Guarantee€2M · €2.6M from 1.1.2027
Decision clock6 months + requests
Realistic timeline6-9 months from filing
Timing in Spain depends on the call more than on the review. We build the file before a convocatoria opens, so it can be filed as soon as one does.
On the ground in Spain
Run from our Madrid office.
Prifinance - Spain
Madrid · Spain
Madrid, Spain
01
Company and representative
A single-purpose sociedad anónima with €100,000 of capital and its permanent representative in Spain, set up to the art. 13 standard.Single-purpose SA + representative.
02
The call file
We prepare the general-licence file ahead of a convocatoria so it can go in as soon as one opens. Singular licences follow outside the calls.Ready before the call.
03
The guarantee
The €2,000,000 guarantee arranged as a bank guarantee or surety insurance, and sized for the €2,600,000 that applies from 1 January 2027.Sized for 2027.
04
Deposit-limit integration
Your cashier connected to the joint limit system, with the €700, €1,750 and €3,300 defaults tested before RD 520/2026 applies.Wired into the cashier.
We also have offices in
Tallinn
Estonia
Väike-Paala tn 1
Vilnius
Lithuania
Gedimino pr. 2
Prague
Czech Republic
Vlkova 532/8, Žižkov
Dubai
UAE
33 Level, Al Saqr Business Tower
London
United Kingdom
7 Bell Yard
Budapest
Hungary
Korányi Sándor u. 4
Istanbul
Turkey
Perpa Ticaret Merkezi, A Blok
Good to know
Taxation of gaming operators in Spain.
One state tax on net revenue, filed every quarter, with the proceeds shared out among the regions.
A single rate since 2018
Ley 6/2018 rewrote art. 48.7 Ley 13/2011: the impuesto sobre actividades de juego applies one rate to net revenue for every game except state sports betting and promotional draws. We confirm the current percentage in your quote.Confirmed in the quote.
Net revenue, defined
The base is stakes minus prizes paid. Where the operator earns commissions, as in exchange betting, the base is the commissions plus related service charges.Stakes minus prizes.
Quarterly on modelo 763
Annual and multi-year licensees self-assess every quarter, within the following month (art. 48.8), on modelo 763.Modelo 763.
The regions' share
The tax is state-wide, but revenue from residents' play goes to the autonomous communities in proportion to what their residents stake (art. 48).By residents' stakes.
Ceuta and Melilla
The tax carries a 50% rebate (bonificación) for Ceuta and Melilla. Whether a structure qualifies is checked per case.50% rebate.
The art. 49 fee
The tasa por la gestión administrativa del juego is self-assessed with the tax agency on modelo 602 for amounts accruing from 31 December 2020. We confirm current amounts per case.Modelo 602.
Tax summary
Gaming taxIAJ, art. 48 Ley 13/2011
BaseNet revenue: stakes minus prizes
RateSingle rate, confirmed in the quote
FilingQuarterly, modelo 763
Administrative feeArt. 49 tasa, modelo 602
*As of 2026 per Ley 13/2011, Ley 6/2018 and Orden HAC/1363/2018. Group and founder-level outcomes are modelled per structure.
Turnkey professional support
Experienced lawyers and international consultants.
We provide end-to-end support, from company registration and the application file to regulatory interaction and compliance oversight - with an individualized approach to each client.
Oleksii Kindratenko
Builds the application itself: single-purpose sociedad anónima, AML/KYC policy pack, capital structure and tax registrations. His document sets are the reason reviews finish in months, not years.
Eugeniu Bevziuc
First point of contact for international founders. Runs the whole setup remotely, across time zones and languages - from the first call to a live, licensed operator.
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Spain · DGOJ
Launch your gaming project in Spain with expert support.
Full-service assistance - from the single-purpose sociedad anónima and the guarantee to the general and singular licences and the joint deposit limits - run through our Madrid office.
Get a consultation →Free legal opinion
Is Spain the right fit for your project?
Our legal team will analyze your case at no cost and provide a written legal opinion: which jurisdiction, licence scope, or route fits your business.
Written assessment within 2-5 business days
Request a free conclusion →FAQ
The Spain gaming licence, answered.
What licences does the DGOJ issue?+
Two layers under Ley 13/2011: general licences for each modality (betting, other games, contests), valid 10 years plus 10, and singular licences for each game type, valid one to five years. Lotteries are reserved to SELAE and ONCE.
When can I apply for a general licence?+
Only while a call is open. General licences are granted solely through a public convocatoria opened by ministerial order, and interested parties may request a new one 18 months after the previous call. We confirm the call status with the DGOJ before you commit budget.
What guarantee does Spain require?+
€2,000,000 per general licence for the initial period and €1,000,000 combined in later years (€500,000 and €250,000 for contests only). From 1 January 2027 RD 520/2026 raises the main amounts to €2,600,000 and €1,300,000.
What are the new deposit limits?+
A joint limit across all licensed operators under RD 520/2026: €700 a day, €1,750 a week and €3,300 per four weeks by default. Lowering is immediate, raising takes three business days, and operators must check the system before every deposit from late March 2027.
How is online gambling taxed in Spain?+
Through the impuesto sobre actividades de juego, art. 48 Ley 13/2011. Since Ley 6/2018 a single rate applies to net revenue, stakes minus prizes, self-assessed every quarter on modelo 763. We confirm the current percentage in your quote.
How long does the DGOJ take?+
Six months from filing by rule, extended by the time taken to answer DGOJ requests. We plan for 6-9 months from filing once a call is open, and the call itself is the variable that matters most.
Can a foreign company apply?+
Yes, with Spanish or EEA nationality and at least one permanent representative in Spain (art. 13). For a general licence it must be a sociedad anónima whose sole purpose is gaming, with €100,000 of share capital.
What are the advertising rules?+
Tight. Under RD 958/2020, TV and radio gambling ads may run only between 01:00 and 05:00, with the exceptions in art. 18, and shirt sponsorship is banned (art. 12). The Supreme Court annulled the new-customer promotion and celebrity rules in April 2024.
Spain or Portugal for an Iberian launch?+
Portugal is easier to enter: it licenses on application, with €600,000 in guarantees against Spain's €2,000,000. Spain gives more back - a 10-year term against three years and 77 licensed operators against 19. If no Spanish call is open, Portugal is the file you can submit now.
Why Prifinance for Spain?+
We run Spanish files from our Madrid office. We build the single-purpose sociedad anónima with its permanent representative, prepare the general-licence file before a call opens, size the guarantee for 2027 and wire the joint deposit limits into your cashier.
What licences?+
General per modality + singular.
When to apply?+
Only while a call is open.
Guarantee?+
€2M, €2.6M from 2027.
Deposit limits?+
€700 / €1,750 / €3,300.
Tax?+
Single rate on net revenue.
How long?+
6 months + requests.
Foreign company?+
EEA + representative in Spain.
Advertising?+
TV and radio 01:00-05:00.
Or Portugal?+
Easier door vs longer term.
Why you?+
Madrid office, call-ready file.
Client notes
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Founders who wanted it done right.
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Get a free legal opinion on your project - our legal team will analyze your case at no cost and provide a written legal opinion: which jurisdiction, licence scope, or route fits your business.Free legal opinion: whether Spain's call timing fits your plan and what entry will cost.
✓Written legal opinion within 2-5 business days - free of charge✓A clear recommendation on the right licence scope, not a sales pitch✓Transparent fixed fees, confirmed up front✓EN · RU · ES speaking team
Prifinance is an independent law and advisory firm. We are not a regulator and are not affiliated with, endorsed by, or acting on behalf of the Dirección General de Ordenación del Juego (DGOJ) or any other public authority. Authorisations are granted by, and obtained directly from, the competent authorities.