Spanish Poker Sites

Knowing that gambling is actually extremely popular in Spain may come as a bit of a surprise given the country’s reputation for being a relaxed and easygoing people.

In reality, according to estimations, Spain ranks third globally in terms of the amount of money spent on gambling, with more than €2 billion as of the most recent tally. The Spanish propensity for gambling is easier to comprehend when you realize there are more than 40 casinos spread out across the country.

Spanish casinos have a wide range of businesses that may accommodate almost any budget or inclination. Poker is a popular game among the locals in these venues among the traditional casino and table games.

Spanish casinos provide a wide variety of conventional and cutting-edge new variations, from cash games to lengthy tournaments. Even more, there is a regional variation of Omaha called “Synthetic Poker,” which almost every player worth his chips has played a lot.

The laws and regulations governing the gambling sector in Spain were quite permissive for a long time. But more lately, the government has taken steps to impose more regulations on the sector.

In 2006, the first legislation governing the online gaming sector were passed. These regulations, however, only applied to online gambling. In the eyes of the Spanish authorities, poker, slots, and card games remained illegal.

Even yet, new laws and regulations were constantly being added to and changed. By 2010, the government had taken a significant step in creating a more comprehensive set of regulations for the gambling sector. This opened the path for the 2011 passage of the Spanish Gambling Act. This law made it lawful to play online poker and other previously forbidden activities.

One of the effects of the Gambling Act was that Spanish gamers could only access websites with the domain “.es” to play on. Because of this, many Spanish athletes were unable to compete on a global stage. This prohibition was loosened by a later law that was established in 2013, allowing Spanish athletes to compete against athletes from France and Italy, among other nations.

Does Spain allow poker?

Poker is permitted in state-licensed casinos and card rooms in Spain. The nation is the third in Europe to legalize internet gambling after France and Italy, and online poker is also permitted there.

According to Spanish law, “gambling” refers to any activity in which money or other things of value are exchanged in anticipation of an unknowable future outcome.

Games where the results are influenced by chance, skill, or luck fall under this category. Any and all games that meet these requirements are governed by law.

Social games are exempt from gambling laws since they frequently do not include money or prizes with monetary value.

Spain’s Laws and Regulations

The 2011 Spanish Gaming Act (Law 13/2011) is the principal body of law governing gambling in Spain.

Prior to 2011, there was a period of discussion and revision that led to the creation of this statute. A large portion of the law’s first implementation required the creation of new rules that applied to various activities, including online poker and sports betting.

Poker’s Regulatory Body in Spain

The central State and the country’s Autonomous Regions (Comunidades Autónomas) are responsible for regulating the local gaming business, as required by the Spanish Constitution. It is up to each each region to control, approve, and collect taxes on gaming inside its borders. A regional level is also responsible for overseeing both public and private gambling operations.

Across-the-country gambling operations are managed at the state level. The Ministry of Finance and General Government is in charge of these initiatives. The Dirección General de Ordenación del Juego (DGOJ), which falls under this organization, is in charge of approving, authorizing, and monitoring gambling-related operations. In essence, the DGOJ is in charge of both public and private online gaming activities that span multiple regions.

Age Limit For Gambling In Spain

In Spain, 18 is the minimum age to participate in gambling.

All parts of the country are affected by this.

Frequently Played Poker Tournaments in Spain

Spain has hosted some of the most prestigious poker events in the world. Barcelona has hosted both the European Poker Tour and the World Poker Tour at various points in time.

In addition, various-sized events and competitions are held both in the city and in other regions of the nation. The Estrellas Poker Tour, a PokerStars series of events that take place all throughout Spain, is one of the most well-known of them.

Spanish Players’ Banking Options

Spanish gamers who want to play online poker can fund their accounts and cash out their winnings using the following methods:

• Cards, including debit and credit
• E-wallets
• Prepaid money orders
• Banking wire transfer
• A wire transfer

Currency Accepted In Spanish Poker Rooms

The only currency accepted for transactions at Spanish casinos and card rooms is the euro.

Summary

Unlike the other EU nations (e.g. Germany or France), Spain is a place where you can partake in the majority of gambling activities without worrying that you’ll break the law. Naturally, this also holds true for poker, so feel free to take advantage of the numerous options to play your preferred game in whichever region of the nation you are fortunate enough to visit!