Research confirms that the majority of the Spanish population practices responsible gambling

• 30 million people in Spain chose some kind of game, public or private, as part of their leisure in 2019.
• Problem gambling rates have decreased in Spain since 1990. The study data confirm a problem gambling rate of 0.3% according to DSM-IV * (or 0.1% according to PGSI *), which places Spain as the second country with the lowest rate of problem gambling.
• Public gaming, SELAE and ONCE lotteries, which are mostly games of luck, continue to attract the majority of customers for their great prizes. Private gaming, casinos, bingo halls, gaming halls, bets and hospitality machines, which combine luck with socialization and entertainment, attract 6.5 million customers.

According to data from the 11th edition of the Gaming and Society Study, 84.9% of the adult Spanish population (30 million people) play as an entertainment or leisure option, either to exclusive games of luck, such as lotteries, or to games that combine luck with socialization and entertainment, characteristics of private play. This figure is below those recorded before the previous crisis (2007), when it exceeded 90%. Gaming is a fully integrated activity in Spanish society. The Study has been developed by the professor of Sociology and member of the Institute of Policy and Governance of the Carlos III University of Madrid, José Antonio Gómez Yáñez; and by the lawyer and member of the Council for Studies on Gaming Policies and Legislation, Carlos Lalanda Fernández.

In the words of José Antonio Gómez Yáñez: “the objective of this research is to analyze in a real and verifiable way the relationship between Spanish society and gaming. The game is subject to debate, like many productive activities, which further exacerbates the need for this type of study that provides an objective view, based on data, for public opinion, Administrations and the media. It is about offering real and updated data on gaming as part of the habits of Spanish society. It must be said that the vast majority of those who play do so responsibly, they know that it has a cost, like admission to a show."

The CEO of CEJUEGO, Alejandro Landaluce, affirms that “Administrations are increasingly concerned about a possible inappropriate use of gaming in society and we, as representatives of the sector, share this sensitivity. Therefore, we support this kind of scientific studies that allow us to know the reality of social behavior towards gaming, beyond individual or collective perceptions, in order to act in those areas that are necessary within our responsibility "

Through statistical data and professional analysis, it is extracted that games based mainly on luck are still the majority option for Spaniards, divided into Christmas Lottery (25.8 million buyers), El Niño Lottery (14 , 5 million), other lotteries (14 million) and coupons of the ONCE (8.5 million). The research highlights that the ONCE Scratch Cards continue to be the fastest growing game option for the second year in a row with 9.9% participation and the one that attracts the youngest public, 50.5% of its players are under 35 years.

On the other hand, about privately managed games - those of entertainment, socialization and luck - the study concludes that 6.5 million people have gone to a casino, bingo, gambling hall or have gambled or played on a machine in a bar at least eleven. The profile of the clients of these games is very varied, with a different target audience, of varying ages between 18 and 75 and of all social statuses.

According to the Study, during the year 2019, 2.2 million people have played in casinos; 2.4 million in bingo halls; 3 million in gaming halls; and 1.5 million in hospitality B machines. 

Regarding online gaming, spending in Spain is less than € 800 million per year, which represents 7.7% of total spending on gaming in 2019. 1.5 million people connected at least once in the year to play online, with a monthly average of 630,000. Of these, only 300,000 plays constantly, that is, 0.9% of the population between 18 and 75 years old. After a while and after the novelty, the typical behavior of those who play online settles: the gaming sessions are shortened and the amounts spent remain at levels similar to any other hobby.

The typology of users is very heterogeneous and does not allow defining a specific player profile, being primarily men between 26 and 35 years old (34.4%).

Spanish society and problem gambling
According to the Study, the population participating in public management games is attracted by the illusion of the prize, a great reward that can change their lives.

What motivates customers who attend casinos, bingos, gaming halls, betting shops or who play at bar machines is the desire to hang out, interact with people with the same hobbies, show skill or ability. These are games based on the illusion of winning a big prize. It's about socializing, fun and entertainment.

Finally, the authors emphasize that according to the data of the Study, the rate of problem gambling in Spain remains stable, with 0.3% of the population between 18 and 75 years of age. This percentage positions Spain as the second country with the lowest rate among the countries with available data, coinciding with Norway, which empirically makes it impossible to affirm a gambling problem in Spanish society.

If instead of surveys on habits of the adult population, either following the DSM-IV or PGSI guidelines, the cases diagnosed with gambling disorder are analyzed - based on data published by the Ministry of Health from the health systems of the CCAA-these can be estimated in a figure close to 7,000 individuals, that is, 0.02% of the population between 18 and 75 years old. This data further quantifies the incidence of problem gambling in Spain.

* DSM-IV and PGSI are the two internationally approved systems to measure the incidence of problem gambling in a population as a whole.

You can access all the information of the Gaming and Society Study 2020 in detail at the following link.