Spanish Gambling Law: What Online Poker Players Need to Know

The Spanish Congress of Deputies approved the gambling law on May 12, 2021. This new law will regulate various activities in the sector, with a particular focus on online gaming, which directly impacts poker players. The law categorizes poker as 'Other games' under the 'Apuestas' category, which includes games with an element of chance where money or valuable items are at stake.

The Comisión Nacional del Juego (CNJ) will oversee the licensing of operators and the regulation of games. Operators will need to obtain both a general license and specific licenses for each type of game they offer. The law does not limit the number of licenses that can be granted, suggesting that many poker rooms may remain operational.

Operators must redirect Spanish users to a .es domain for gaming activities. This requirement ensures that Spanish players are directed to the appropriate regulatory framework. The law does not specify that gaming activities are exclusively for Spanish players, but it does mandate that operators implement a .es website for online gaming within the scope of this law.