Resurgence in Spain’s digital betting: Q1 2024 financials

Lea Hogg June 5, 2024

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Resurgence in Spain’s digital betting: Q1 2024 financials

Spain’s digital betting landscape has seen a significant upturn in Q1 2024, with a year-on-year growth of 15.1 percent, primarily propelled by sports wagering and online casino games. This report, presented by the Directorate General for the Regulation of Gambling (DGOJ), provides an in-depth analysis of the market dynamics.

The Gross Gaming Revenue (GGR) for this period reached a notable €350.7 million ($381 million), marking an 11.2 percent increase from the previous quarter and a 15.1 percent rise year-over-year. This surge represents a significant recovery from the 3 percent downturn reported in Q3 2023, where the GGR stood at €304.3 million.

The resurgence can be largely attributed to the betting segment, which saw a substantial 31 percent quarter-over-quarter increase, accounting for 42.9 percent of the total GGR in Q1 2024. This is a significant rise from the 36.4% contribution in Q3 2023. The growth was primarily driven by a surge in pre-match betting, which saw a staggering 588.8 percent quarter-over-quarter growth, effectively counterbalancing a decrease in in-play sports betting.

Factors driving growth

The casino segment also played a pivotal role in driving the overall growth, with a year-over-year increase of 17 percent. Slots and live roulette emerged as the key contributors within this segment, registering year-over-year growth rates of 15 percent and 22.2 percent respectively.

Despite the overall positive growth, certain segments witnessed a decline. Poker, for instance, saw a marginal decrease of 2.1 percent quarter-over-quarter, while bingo and contests remained relatively stable compared to the previous quarter.

The Q1 2024 results underscore a resilient market that has effectively adapted to previous market fluctuations. Player engagement remained robust, with deposits and withdrawals increasing by 15.9 percent and 13.9 percent year-over-year, respectively. The number of new accounts also saw a 15.2 percent quarter-over-quarter growth, indicating a sustained interest in online gambling in Spain.

Interestingly, marketing expenses saw a 1 percent decrease compared to the previous quarter, suggesting a more conservative approach by operators despite the overall market growth.

The positive growth trajectory in Spain’s online gambling market in Q1 2024, despite a decrease in GGR in Q3 2023 due to fluctuations in sports betting and other verticals, suggests a return to growth for the market. This growth is driven by increased player activity and sustained interest in casino games and sports betting. This analysis provides valuable insights into the evolving dynamics of Spain’s online gambling sector.