The Business Council for Gaming (CEJUEGO) presented the data from the report "Gaming and Society 2024". They also announced the data from the "Gaming Yearbook 2024".
Spain.- The Business Council for Gaming (CEJUEGO) presented this Monday, December 16 in Barcelona the annual study that shows the most notable habits of the Spanish population regarding in-person gaming (lotteries, casinos, bingos, sports betting). The research thoroughly analyzes the economic, social, and fiscal impact of gaming in Spain during 2023.
The study "Gaming and Society", prepared by Dr. José Antonio Gómez Yáñez, demonstrates that the vast majority of Spaniards engage in some form of gaming.
The general director of CEJUEGO, Alejandro Landaluce, explained that the studies "are in line with the data from the Ministry of Health and with previous editions of these reports and reveal a quite simple reality: Spaniards have a balanced relationship with gaming, although this may surprise some. There is no widespread addiction problem to gaming, much less an epidemic as some sectors want to make believe."
According to the study, the practice of gaming in Spain continues to be one of the most popular and culturally rooted leisure activities, with 85.5 percent of Spaniards between 18 and 75 years old participating in some form of gaming in 2023, equivalent to 29.6 million people.
Despite the challenges imposed by the pandemic, the sector recovered pre-pandemic levels and even shows sustained growth in terms of participation and economic generation. This phenomenon ranges from the popular Christmas Lottery to entertainment games in casinos, bingos, and sports betting, positioning gaming as a key component in the social, cultural, and economic life of Spain.
The Covid-19 pandemic caused a significant reduction in participation in gambling due to the temporary closure of venues and the restriction of leisure activities in 2020, the year in which the participation percentage fell to 80.9 percent, similar to the levels observed during the economic crisis of 2013. However, the recovery has been steady: in 2021, the participation rate rose to 82.4 percent, in 2022 it increased to 83.9 percent, and in 2023 it reached 85.5 percent.
In the study presented in Barcelona, it is shown that, despite the wide participation, 15 percent of Spaniards between 18 and 75 years old do not participate in any form of gaming. The reasons are varied and range from personal aversion to ideological, religious, and economic factors. This group of non-gamers is largely characterized by residing in households with economic difficulties, thus reflecting a relationship between purchasing power and participation in leisure activities. Additionally, young people under 25 years old show a lower rate of participation in gaming compared to other age groups, which contradicts the stereotype that gaming is more attractive to younger generations.
On the other hand, the data shows that, on average, men tend to participate more in gambling than women, and people with greater economic stability also participate more actively. These data suggest that gaming in Spain is not a homogeneous activity; preferences and participation are deeply influenced by social, economic, and cultural factors that define different player profiles.
Among the different forms of gaming, entertainment games – such as casinos, sports betting, and gaming halls – accounted for 17.9 percent of the total participation in 2023, which is equivalent to 6.2 million people. This figure is below theater, which attracted 24.5 percent of the population, but surpasses other cultural activities such as painting (16.1 percent), music (9.6 percent), and opera (3.3 percent).
This type of gaming is considered by players as a form of leisure that does not promise large prizes, but offers an entertainment experience in exchange for a controlled economic investment. The comparison with cultural activities underscores the role of gaming in everyday Spanish life, showing that, for many, participating in these games is as accessible and attractive as other leisure options.
Among all the forms of gaming in Spain, national lotteries, especially the Christmas Lottery, stand out for their popularity. In 2023, 74.9 percent of the population participated in this draw, a figure that evidences the intergenerational and social nature of this tradition. The Christmas Lottery is an event that reinforces social and community ties, as it is common for Spaniards to share tickets with family, friends, or coworkers, making gaming a collective activity.
This social dimension of gaming, especially visible in the Christmas Lottery, reflects how this practice has been integrated into Spanish culture over generations. Gambling is not seen only as an economic bet, but as a tradition that transcends social classes and fosters social cohesion.
See also: Online gaming in Spain: the industry reported a year-on-year growth of 14% in the third quarter
One of the most relevant topics in the analysis of gaming is the phenomenon of problem gaming. In Spain, the rate of people affected by problem gaming remains stable at a low 0.2 percent of the population. This figure places Spain among the Western European countries with the lowest rates, comparable to countries like the Netherlands and Portugal (both with 0.2 percent) and below countries like Germany and France (0.5 percent).
It is also worth noting the perception that players have of their losses in gaming: for most, the losses are seen as the cost of entertainment, similar to spending on recreational activities such as movies or concerts. Additionally, 92.6 percent of players ensure they do not focus on recovering what was lost, suggesting that the majority have a rational and controlled attitude towards gaming. This responsible and mature perception contrasts with the stereotype of impulsive and uncontrolled behavior traditionally associated with gaming.
The report also reveals that the gaming sector is one of the industries with the greatest economic impact in Spain. In 2023, private gaming generated more than EUR1.700m in taxes, exceeding EUR1.000m in public gaming. This total economic contribution amounted to EUR2.580m, which helps finance public services and programs in the country.
In terms of job creation, the gaming sector employs a total of 183,000 people, an increase of 27.1 percent since 2014. This includes both direct jobs in casinos, bingos, and sports betting, as well as indirect jobs in related sectors. Recreational machines in bars and hospitality establishments, for example, sustain 39,000 jobs, representing significant support for the hospitality sector. This labor impact makes the gaming sector a job engine and a crucial source of income for many families in Spain.
Spending on gambling in Spain also shows a rebound after the pandemic. In 2023, spending on ONCE and SELAE products (lotteries, primitives, pools, etc.) was 144.3 euros per person, while spending on private gaming reached 164.4 euros per inhabitant. Compared to 2019, this represents an increase of 7 percent in public gaming products and 1.3 percent in private gaming.
This growth in spending not only indicates a recovery in consumption habits but also highlights the resilience of the sector in times of crisis and its ability to adapt to new consumption trends. Lotteries and instant games from ONCE, such as "scratch-offs", are particularly popular and have experienced significant growth in sales, while private gaming has seen an increase in sales of casinos and sports betting.
See also: Balanced regulation and expansion of dialogue: what Spanish experts said about the current situation of online gaming in Spain
Public gaming companies, SELAE (State Society for Lotteries and State Betting) and ONCE, have shown growth in their sales during the last year, registering increases of 3.5 and 8.3 percent respectively. SELAE focused its growth on the traditional Christmas Lottery, which continues to be its star product, while ONCE has experienced an increase in its instant games, known as "scratch-offs", which are progressively replacing its traditional coupons.
The fiscal impact of the gaming sector allows financing essential services and social projects. For example, the revenues generated for public coffers by private gaming (EUR1.786m) are equivalent to the cost of 14,656 heart transplants or 47,751 kidney transplants in the public health system. Additionally, this contribution helps sustain thousands of days of hospitalization in public health and support rehabilitation and labor reintegration programs in different regions of Spain.
These equivalences demonstrate that gaming, beyond being a source of entertainment, has become a tool for social and economic development. Around 0.74 percent of Spain's GDP comes from this industry, reinforcing the importance of its role in the national economy. Moreover, its ability to generate employment and contribute to public coffers makes the gaming sector not only sustainable but also a fundamental pillar of the Spanish economy.
The CEJUEGO study concludes that gaming in Spain is positioned as a stable leisure activity, widely accepted and culturally rooted. With high participation, a low incidence of problem gaming, and a significant economic contribution, the gaming sector has demonstrated its ability to evolve and adapt to the new demands of the market and society.
"Thanks to effective regulation and a responsible approach by users, gaming in Spain remains a safe and controlled leisure option, which not only enriches the lives of those who participate in it but also the economy and well-being of the country," concludes the statement from the Business Council for Gaming.
