# Casino bonuses in Spain: the rules explained

> Royal Decree 958/2020 banned welcome bonuses for new customers, but the Supreme Court annulled that ban in April 2024 and the BOE's consolidated text marks it as annulled, although the DGOJ's FAQ still described it on October 1, 2026. The rules that remain are strict: every offer must state the minimum deposit, the wagering requirement, the time limit and whether you get withdrawable cash or bonus credit, and it can't suggest the bonus is free, use testimonials or target self-excluded or at-risk players.

- URL: https://safebet.ai/es/online-casinos/casino-bonuses-spain/
- Markdown version: https://safebet.ai/es/online-casinos/casino-bonuses-spain/index.html.md
- Last updated: 2026-10-01 (re-checked when an operator changes its terms or a regulator or court acts)
- Author: SafeBet.ai Research Team (SafeBet.ai)
- Editorial policy and advertiser disclosure: https://safebet.ai/editorial-policy/

## Key takeaways

- In April 2024, the Supreme Court annulled the parts of Royal Decree 958/2020 that banned welcome bonuses (arts. 13.1 and 13.3); the BOE's consolidated text marks them as annulled.
- Every bonus offer must state the minimum deposit, the wagering requirement, the time limit and whether you get withdrawable cash or bonus credit (art. 13.4).
- Offers can't suggest a bonus is free, can't use testimonials and can't be aimed at self-excluded or at-risk players.
- As of October 1, 2026, the DGOJ's FAQ still describes the annulled ban on new-customer promotions, so the regulator's guidance and the BOE text disagree.
- In a hypothetical example, a €50 bonus with 30x wagering means €1,500 of bets and an expected loss of about €60 on a slot with 96% RTP, more than the bonus itself.
- The 2026 consultation on reforming Spain's Gambling Act covered customer-acquisition promotions; no draft bill had been published as of October 1, 2026.

## What are the rules for casino bonuses in Spain?

As of October 1, 2026, the official text of Spain's rules lets licensed online casinos offer bonuses, but every offer must follow art. 13 of Royal Decree 958/2020 on gambling advertising. It has to state its minimum deposit, wagering requirement, time limit and whether you get withdrawable cash or bonus credit; it can't suggest the bonus is free; and it can't be aimed at self-excluded or at-risk players.

The decree originally banned welcome bonuses for new customers. The Supreme Court annulled that ban in April 2024, but the FAQ of Spain's gambling regulator, the Directorate General for the Regulation of Gambling (Dirección General de Ordenación del Juego, DGOJ), still describes it, so the regulator's guidance and the official text disagree. Only DGOJ-licensed sites may offer bonuses at all; see [are online casinos legal in Spain](https://safebet.ai/es/online-casinos/are-online-casinos-legal-in-spain/).

The rules also cover websites like ours: they apply to anyone who publishes gambling ads, "incluidos afiliados, páginas web y redes sociales" (including affiliates, websites and social networks), under art. 2.a. That's why our [ranking of online casinos licensed in Spain](https://safebet.ai/es/online-casinos/) never shows a bonus as a bare amount. Bonuses matter to operators: across all online games, licensed operators spent €347.5 million on them in 2025, more than on advertising (€244.3 million), according to DGOJ data.

## What Royal Decree 958/2020 originally said

Royal Decree 958/2020 of November 3, 2020, banned welcome offers outright. Its original art. 13.1 said "se prohíben las promociones de captación de clientes nuevos" (promotions to attract new customers are prohibited), whatever their conditions, and allowed promotions only for customers whose accounts had been open at least 30 days and verified with documents. Art. 13.3 also confined promotional messages to existing customers, a separate section of the operator's own website or app, or lottery outlets.

The DGOJ enforced the 30-day rule: in 2023, for example, it fined a licensed operator for giving bonuses to customers whose accounts were less than 30 days old.

## What the Supreme Court annulled in April 2024

The Supreme Court (Tribunal Supremo) annulled arts. 13.1 and 13.3 in two rulings published in the BOE, Spain's official gazette:

- **April 2, 2024**, on an appeal by the Spanish digital gambling association (Asociación Española de Juego Digital, Jdigital), published on May 25, 2024 (BOE-A-2024-10500). It also annulled the ban on celebrities in gambling ads (art. 15).
- **April 19, 2024**, on an appeal by LaLiga, published on June 8, 2024 (BOE-A-2024-11619).

The BOE's consolidated text, last updated on June 8, 2024, marks both provisions "(Anulado)" (annulled), so on that text the decree no longer bans welcome bonuses for adults. The rest of art. 13 still applies:

| Provision | What it says | Status on October 1, 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Art. 13.1 | No promotions to attract new customers | Annulled |
| Art. 13.3 | Limits on where promotions could appear | Annulled |
| Art. 13.2 | No promotions aimed at self-excluded or at-risk players | In force |
| Art. 13.4 | Four mandatory disclosures; no "free" impression; no testimonials; not based on skill | In force |
| Art. 13.5 | Full terms on the operator's site | In force |
| Arts. 13.7–13.8 | No personalized offers after a deposit-limit increase or while a withdrawal can be canceled | In force |

## What every bonus offer must tell you

Every promotion must give "información clara y transparente" (clear and transparent information) on four points (art. 13.4):

1. **The minimum deposit** ("la cuantía mínima del depósito").
2. **The wagering requirement:** how much you must bet, or how many times, to release the bonus and its winnings.
3. **The time limit** to release the bonus ("el plazo máximo para liberar la ventaja económica").
4. **What you get:** "dinero retirable o dinero en apuestas" (withdrawable money or money that can only be bet).

If an ad has no room for all four, it must say clearly that the promotion "está sujeta a condiciones disponibles en la página web del operador" (is subject to conditions on the operator's website) and link straight to them. The full terms, including the maximum bet, the order in which your money and bonus funds are used, cancellation, caps on winnings, minimum odds and payment methods, must be on the operator's site (art. 13.5).

Art. 13.4 also bans any "percepción falsa o equívoca de gratuidad" (false or misleading impression of being free), which is why we write "bonus spins" and "bonus funds". Offers can't include testimonials from earlier participants or be based on the player's skill.

## Who can't receive promotions

- **Self-excluded and at-risk players.** No promotion may be aimed at people registered in the RGIAJ (Registro General de Interdicciones de Acceso al Juego), Spain's national self-exclusion register, or at customers flagged as at risk (art. 13.2). Royal Decree 176/2023 on safer gambling goes further: players flagged for risky behavior can't receive "ninguna clase de actividad promocional" (any kind of promotion) (art. 27).
- **After a limit increase or during a withdrawal.** Operators can't send you personalized promotions for 30 days after you raise a deposit limit, or while a withdrawal you requested can still be canceled (arts. 13.7–13.8).

If you're worried about your gambling, see our [guide to gambling help in Spain](https://safebet.ai/es/guides/gambling-help-spain/).

## Why the DGOJ's FAQ says something different

As of October 1, 2026, the DGOJ's FAQ still answers "Sí" (yes) to "¿Se ha prohibido la oferta de promociones de captación de clientes nuevos?" (Has offering promotions to new customers been banned?), and says promotions may only be announced in a separate section of the operator's website or app.

Those answers match the 2020 wording of arts. 13.1 and 13.3, which the BOE's consolidated text shows as annulled. When the DGOJ opened a consultation on reforming Spain's Gambling Act (Ley 13/2011) on May 18, 2026, it listed "las promociones de captación de clientes" (customer-acquisition promotions) among the topics the new law should regulate, which is consistent with them not being banned now.

We follow the BOE text; either way, the rules above apply to every offer.

## How wagering requirements work

A wagering requirement (or rollover) is how much you must bet before bonus funds become withdrawable cash, usually written as a multiple of the bonus. Every bet carries the game's house edge, so the more you must wager, the more the bonus costs you on average. A bonus never changes the odds of a game.

### Worked example (hypothetical numbers)

These numbers are made up to show the math; they aren't a real offer. Say a casino matches a €50 deposit (minimum €10) with €50 in bonus funds, which become withdrawable cash if you complete the wagering within 30 days. You play a slot with a 96% return to player (RTP), which means a 4% house edge.

| Wagering requirement | Total bets needed | Expected loss at a 4% edge | Average value of the €50 bonus |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10x the bonus | €500 | €20 | About €30 |
| 30x the bonus | €1,500 | €60 | About −€10 |
| 30x deposit plus bonus (€100) | €3,000 | €120 | About −€70 |

At 30x the bonus, you'd expect to lose more while wagering than the bonus adds, and far more when the multiple covers your deposit too. These are long-run averages: in a single session, you can lose your whole deposit before you finish.

If the terms count a game at less than 100%, divide the requirement by its contribution: at 10%, €1,500 of wagering means €15,000 of bets on that game. Bonus spins work the same way, so check the spin value, the eligible slots and the wagering on any winnings.

## What to check before you accept a bonus

- **The four disclosures:** minimum deposit, wagering, time limit, and cash or bonus credit.
- **What the multiple applies to:** the bonus alone, or your deposit plus the bonus.
- **Game contributions**, excluded games and the **maximum bet** while the bonus is active.
- **Caps on winnings**, the order in which your cash and bonus funds are used, and how to cancel.
- **Payment methods:** whether your deposit method qualifies.
- **Your budget.** Decide what you can afford before you look at an offer. Spain's default deposit limits still apply, and you set a time and loss limit before every casino session.
- **Taxes.** Gambling winnings can be taxable; see our [gambling tax guide for Spain](https://safebet.ai/es/guides/gambling-taxes-spain/).

## The 2026 reform plans

Bonus rules could change with the Gambling Act reform. From May 18 to June 22, 2026, the DGOJ held a public consultation covering customer-acquisition promotions, celebrities and influencers in gambling ads, and ads in search results. As of October 1, 2026, no draft bill had been published.

## The bottom line

On the BOE text, licensed casinos in Spain can offer bonuses again, but every offer must show its minimum deposit, wagering, time limit and whether you get cash or bonus credit, and none may be presented as free. Work out the wagering in euros before you accept, and only deposit what you'd spend anyway. To compare licensed casinos on more than their offers, see our [ranking of the best online casinos in Spain](https://safebet.ai/es/online-casinos/) and [how we rank them](https://safebet.ai/es/online-casinos/how-we-rank/).

> This page is general information, not legal or tax advice. It reflects Spanish rules as of October 1, 2026, which may change with the Gambling Act reform.

## Frequently asked questions

### Are welcome bonuses legal in Spain?

On the BOE text, yes: in April 2024 the Supreme Court annulled the parts of Royal Decree 958/2020 that banned promotions for new customers. But as of October 1, 2026, the DGOJ's FAQ still describes the old ban, and customer-acquisition promotions are among the topics of the planned reform of the Gambling Act.

### What must a casino bonus offer show in Spain?

The minimum deposit, the wagering requirement, the time limit for releasing the bonus, and whether you get withdrawable cash or money that can only be bet (Royal Decree 958/2020, art. 13.4). If an ad has no room for all four, it must say the offer is subject to conditions on the operator's website and link to them.

### Can a casino in Spain call a bonus 'free'?

No. A promotion can't give a false or misleading impression that it's free or costs nothing, which is why we write 'bonus spins' and 'bonus funds'. Offers also can't include testimonials from earlier participants.

### What is a wagering requirement?

It's how much you must bet before bonus funds become withdrawable, usually written as a multiple of the bonus. In a hypothetical example, a €50 bonus with 30x wagering means €1,500 of bets, which costs about €60 on average on a slot with 96% RTP.

### Can I get casino promotions if I'm self-excluded?

No. Operators can't aim promotions at people registered in the RGIAJ, Spain's self-exclusion register, or at players flagged as at risk, and they can't send you personalized offers for 30 days after you raise a deposit limit. See our [gambling help guide for Spain](https://safebet.ai/es/guides/gambling-help-spain/).

### Why don't SafeBet's comparison tables show bonus amounts?

Because Spanish rules require every bonus mention to carry all four conditions. Our tables have no bonus column; an offer appears only on a casino's card or review, with its full terms and the date we checked it.

## Sources

1. [Real Decreto 958/2020, de 3 de noviembre, de comunicaciones comerciales de las actividades de juego (consolidated text)](https://www.boe.es/buscar/act.php?id=BOE-A-2020-13495) — Boletín Oficial del Estado (BOE), accessed 2026-10-01
2. [Real Decreto 958/2020 (original text)](https://www.boe.es/buscar/doc.php?id=BOE-A-2020-13495) — Boletín Oficial del Estado (BOE), accessed 2026-10-01
3. [Supreme Court ruling of April 2, 2024 annulling provisions of Real Decreto 958/2020 (BOE-A-2024-10500)](https://www.boe.es/buscar/doc.php?id=BOE-A-2024-10500) — Boletín Oficial del Estado (BOE), 2024-05-25
4. [Supreme Court ruling of April 19, 2024 annulling provisions of Real Decreto 958/2020 (BOE-A-2024-11619)](https://www.boe.es/buscar/doc.php?id=BOE-A-2024-11619) — Boletín Oficial del Estado (BOE), 2024-06-08
5. [Preguntas frecuentes (FAQ)](https://www.ordenacionjuego.es/preguntas-frecuentes) — Dirección General de Ordenación del Juego (DGOJ), accessed 2026-10-01
6. [DGOJ opens public consultation on amending the Gambling Act](https://www.ordenacionjuego.es/novedades/dgoj-abre-consulta-publica-modificacion-ley-regulacion-juego) — Dirección General de Ordenación del Juego (DGOJ), 2026-05-18
7. [Real Decreto 176/2023, de 14 de marzo, entornos más seguros de juego (consolidated text)](https://www.boe.es/buscar/act.php?id=BOE-A-2023-6735) — Boletín Oficial del Estado (BOE), accessed 2026-10-01
8. [Real Decreto 1614/2011 (licenses and deposit limits, consolidated text)](https://www.boe.es/buscar/act.php?id=BOE-A-2011-17836) — Boletín Oficial del Estado (BOE), accessed 2026-10-01
9. [Descarga datos Mercado de Juego (online market data files, Q2 2026)](https://www.ordenacionjuego.es/datos-estudios/estudios/descarga-datos-mercado-juego) — Dirección General de Ordenación del Juego (DGOJ), accessed 2026-10-01
10. [Resoluciones sancionadoras (published sanction resolutions)](https://www.ordenacionjuego.es/datos-estudios/resoluciones-sancionadoras) — Dirección General de Ordenación del Juego (DGOJ), accessed 2026-10-01