Spain’s licensed online gambling sector continues to expand, and new research indicates that female participation is increasing steadily. Although women remain a minority among players, their presence in the market has grown in recent years, accompanied by a notable rise in the amount of money deposited into gambling accounts.
A study released by Spain’s Directorate General for the Regulation of Gambling (DGOJ) provides a detailed overview of how women interact with regulated online gambling platforms. The report examines participation rates, deposit behaviour, game preferences, and fraud cases affecting female players. According to the findings, women represented close to one-sixth of the country’s active online gambling population in 2024.
Female Player Base Continues To Expand
Official figures show that Spain recorded 1,991,550 active online gambling accounts in 2024. Among them, 335,627 belonged to women, which represents 16.9% of all active users. The regulator defines an active player as someone who records spending, deposits, and participation in games, excluding accounts used only for promotional offers or those that remain inactive after registration.
The report places this growth within a longer trend. Female participation has been increasing over several years, reflecting the broader rise in total online gambling activity across Spain. Regulators note that the expansion occurred during a period when responsible gambling measures, behavioural monitoring tools, and deposit control policies have gained stronger attention from policymakers.
Demographic analysis highlights a strong generational pattern. Younger players dominate the female gambling audience, with women under the age of 35 accounting for 59.4% of active female users. The largest segment falls within the 26–35 age group, while the most rapid growth has occurred among players aged 18–25. According to the study, this youngest category grew by more than 30% between 2023 and 2024.
Participation patterns also vary depending on the type of gambling product. Sports betting and online casino games account for most female activity on licensed platforms. Bingo and poker represent much smaller shares of engagement. Research referenced in the report also indicates that sports betting remains the most common gambling activity among women in Spain.
Deposit Growth Outpaces Market Expansion
Financial data included in the analysis shows a substantial increase in deposits made by female players. Total deposits across Spain’s online gambling market reached €4.568bn in 2024. Of that figure, €608m came from women, representing 13.32% of all deposits.
Growth in female spending has been particularly strong over the past several years. Between 2020 and 2024, deposits made by women increased by 117%. Over the same period, the overall market recorded deposit growth of 101%.
Despite the rapid expansion, female players still deposit less money on average than the general player population. The report calculates that the average annual deposit per female user reached €2,019 in 2024, while the market-wide average stood at €2,482.
Spending distribution also shows a noticeable imbalance among players. The median loss for women ranges between €10 and €30, yet the average loss per female player reached €539 in 2024. This gap indicates that a relatively small number of high-spending users account for a significant share of total losses.
Among the highest-spending five percent of female players, annual losses reached €3,458 in 2024. The previous year recorded slightly higher losses at €3,583. On the winnings side, the 95th percentile of gains among female users reached €784 in 2024, down from €1,317 in 2023.
Researchers attribute the reduction among the highest spending groups partly to the arrival of many new players who tend to gamble at more moderate levels.
Payment Behaviour And Identity Fraud Findings
The report also examines how female players fund their accounts and when deposits typically occur. Bank cards remain the primary payment method. Women deposited €425m using cards during 2024, accounting for 69.81% of their total deposits.
Other payment options play a smaller role. Electronic wallets accounted for 12.78% of deposits, while instant payment systems represented 7.19%.
Deposit activity follows several identifiable patterns throughout the month and day. The first day of the month records the highest volume of deposits by women, with additional peaks appearing around the 10th and 24th. Weekly behaviour remains relatively consistent, although Tuesday and Saturday show slightly higher activity levels. During the day, deposits are lowest around 5:00 and reach their peak at 20:00, with another period of elevated activity between 21:00 and 23:00.
Alongside participation trends, the report also highlights identity fraud cases involving online gambling accounts. Spain’s Protocol for Action for Impersonated Taxpayers (PACS) records situations where individuals discover that their identities were used by third parties to collect gambling winnings, potentially shifting tax obligations onto the victim.
During the 2025 reporting period, authorities recorded 8,675 identities linked to impersonation cases across 15,871 accounts. Of those identities, 4,003 belonged to women. The report notes that female users appear more frequently in identity theft cases than their share of the market would suggest.
Researchers indicate that the real scale of identity fraud may be larger than official figures show. Some individuals choose not to report cases, particularly when tax consequences are absent or when the suspected perpetrator is someone known personally to the victim.
Source:
Perfil de la mujer jugadora online en España, ordenacionjuego.es, March 6, 2026
