Spain’s Gambling Statistics: 83.9% of Adults Engage in Recreational Gambling
Published on: October 20, 2023, 06:46h.
Last updated on: October 20, 2023, 06:46h.
Spain’s entertainment industry thrives with a strong gambling culture. According to a recent study, over 80% of the adult population actively participates in recreational gambling either regularly or occasionally.
The Game and Society survey of 2023 reveals that a staggering 22.9 million people in Spain, accounting for 83.9% of the population aged between 18 and 75, have participated in gambling activities over the past year. This comprehensive study is conducted annually by the Gaming Business Council and the Murcia Recreational Federation.
The study emphasizes that for the majority of participants, gambling is viewed as a normal form of entertainment. The types of gambling activities, however, vary significantly.
Diverse Gambling Choices
In addition to the popular practice of playing various lotteries, which attracts 66% of the population, 17.9% of Spaniards visit casinos, gaming and bingo halls, sportsbooks, and more. This segment of gamblers recognizes the value of gambling lies in the entertainment experience it offers.
Notably, 61% of users embrace the idea that losses are part of the price they pay for the entertainment value. To them, it’s similar to investing money to watch a live game at a soccer stadium or attend a theater performance.
Contrary to popular belief, the majority of individuals who play slot machines at bars do not play with the intention of recouping their losses. Instead, they accept any losses incurred as a fair exchange for a good time.
The survey also reveals a surprising statistic that 15-20% of the Spanish population avoids gambling altogether. Reasons for this aversion include ideological or religious beliefs, as well as a fear of potential rejection resulting from losses. Interestingly, a significant portion of this group consists of adults under the age of 25, challenging the notion that young people make up the largest segment of gamblers.
The COVID-19 pandemic, leading to the temporary closure of gambling establishments, caused a noticeable decrease in gambling activity in Spain in 2020. During that year, approximately 80.9% of Spaniards engaged in some form of gambling, a figure similar to that of 2013 (80.3%). Since then, the numbers have gradually rebounded to pre-pandemic levels, with 82.4% in 2021 and 83.9% last year.
Controlling Problem Gambling
Another study focusing on problem gambling provides insights into this issue. The data on diagnosed individuals in treatment indicates that the number of people with gaming disorders in Spain is fewer than 8,000.
Information from various community health services suggests that the population seeking treatment for gambling-related issues represents only 0.02% of the population aged between 18 and 75. This is below the threshold typically used to classify a disease as rare.
While these findings suggest that gambling in Spain is generally within normal parameters, they also highlight the need for responsible gambling initiatives.
Addressing the proper concerns and providing appropriate support is crucial. Recent research conducted on 116 patients from Spanish clinics reveals that gambling disorders are associated with other mental health disorders in 97.4% of cases.
Globally and within Western Europe, the prevalence of problematic gambling, as estimated by country surveys, is on the decline. Nearly all Western European countries have rates below 0.5%, with the majority falling below 0.3%. Spain closely aligns with the rates of the Netherlands (0.2%), Portugal (0.2%), Germany (0.3%), Denmark (0.3%), Great Britain (0.3%), and France (0.5%).