The Dirección General de Ordenación del Juego (DJON), the Spanish Directorate General for the Regulation of Gambling, recently unveiled its Q3 2023 statistics, providing a comprehensive overview of the country’s gambling landscape. Despite a 3% quarter-on-quarter dip in gross gambling revenue (GGR) to €304.3 million ($332.3 million), the year-on-year increase of 24% reflects the industry’s ongoing growth and resilience.
Divisional Breakdown:
Casinos Dominating GGR: Casinos emerged as the leading contributor to GGR, representing 52% of the total at €160 million. This quarterly rise of 7% and a yearly increase of 23% underscore the robust performance of casino gaming. Notable growth was observed in live roulette (5% QoQ, 28% YoY), slots (8% QoQ, 26% YoY), and blackjack (11% QoQ).
Sports Betting Dynamics: Despite a 15% decrease in GGR to €113 million, sports betting maintained a strong presence, registering a notable 23% YoY increase. The dip in pre-match betting (32% QoQ) was offset by a surge in general fixed-odds betting, up by 46% QoQ.
Poker’s Resilience: Poker secured the second-highest GGR at €27 million, with a 4% QoQ increase and a substantial 22% YoY growth. Both poker tournaments (31% YoY) and cash games (2% YoY) contributed to this positive trend.
Bingo and Contests Variances: Bingo, with €3.6 million, saw a 3% QoQ increase but a 1% decline YoY. Contests experienced significant fluctuations, decreasing 68% QoQ but rising 57% YoY. The DJON highlighted the erratic nature of contests, showing +58% in 2020, -91% in 2021, and -72% in 2022.
Financial Transactions:
Deposits and Withdrawals: Deposits in Q3 decreased marginally by 1% to €921.8 million, but this represented a notable improvement of 12% YoY. Withdrawals were down 3% to €615.9 million, showing an 8% YoY increase.
Marketing Costs: Total marketing costs amounted to €93.3 million, signaling a 5% decrease QoQ but a 12% increase YoY. This indicates sustained investment in promoting the industry.
User Engagement:
New Accounts and Active Users: The number of new accounts reported positive growth across both timeframes, with 322,709 new sign-ups, representing a 5% quarterly increase and a 4% YoY rise. The average number of active game accounts each month reached 1.1 million, with an average monthly sign-up rate of 107,570.
The Q3 2023 statistics from the DJON paint a dynamic picture of the Spanish gambling market, showcasing resilience and growth in various segments. Despite short-term fluctuations, the industry’s overall trajectory remains positive, supported by evolving consumer trends and regulatory dynamics. The strategic focus on user engagement and diversified offerings positions the Spanish market for continued success in the global gaming landscape.