Spain's online gambling market grows 20 percent in first quarter

The latest figures from the Spanish online gambling regulator show that despite a cutback in marketing by operators, the market continued to deliver 20 percent revenue growth in Q1-2017.

Dirección General de Ordenación del Juego (DGOJ) statistics highlighted total online gambling revenue of Euro 122.7 million – up 20 percent year-on-year, although slightly lower than those achieved in the last quarter of 2016.

Revenue growth was achieved in virtual all verticals on a y-o-y basis, with:

* Betting revenue up 22 percent y-o-y at Euro 71.6 million, and turnover up 4 percent at Euro 1.4 billion – 69 percent from in-play betting;

* Online casino revenue up 30 percent y-o-y at Euro 32.5 million, with slots and roulette each contributing around Euro 13.6 million and showing a 42 percent year=on-year improvement. Blackjack was less successful at Euro 5.1 million, a rise of 18 percent, and Baccarat remained flat at Euro 2.5 million despite turnover plunging almost 60 percent;

* Online poker revenues rose a mere 2.4 percent to Euro 15.1 million in the quarter, recording a 12.3 percent decline in cash game stakes, although tournament fees rose 11.7 percent;

* Online bingo revenue was up almost 7 percent at Euro 2.4 million on turnover that declined 9 percent;

* Operator adspend dropped 14.3 percent y-o-y to Euro 28 million in the quarter, continuing a trend started in Q4-2016. Bonus awards fell almost 10 percent to Euro 17 million, and more was spent on affiliate marketing at Euro 5.2 million…up 6 percent.

* Active online punters rose almost 10 percent to 603,000.