Spain Has the Lowest Rate of Problem Gambling in Europe

A recent investigation discovered that Spain exhibited the most minimal rate of problematic wagering in Europe during 2020. This finding was notable, as even though there was a substantial reduction in traditional gambling activities, online gaming did not experience a commensurate rise.

The research report indicated that, based on the Problem Gambling Severity Index (PGSI), a mere 0.25% of the Spanish populace was categorized as experiencing gambling issues. This figure placed Spain on par with Denmark, representing the lowest rate across Europe.

The study revealed that in 2020, the COVID-19 outbreak led to a considerable downturn in the physical gambling sector. The overall number of individuals engaging in casino games, bingo halls, gaming rooms, retail betting establishments, or gaming machines plummeted by 50%, reaching 3.8 million, which translates to approximately 11.0% of the adult population.

However, despite this decline in traditional gambling, the report uncovered that online gambling did not witness a comparable surge. The number of individuals participating in online games remained steady at 1.5 million.

The survey also uncovered that a substantial majority of Spanish adults (80%)…

Within Spain, a mere 9% of grown-ups engage in some type of wagering, even though this number has decreased by 4% from its zenith in 2013.

Cejuego, a trade group, highlights that this suggests gambling is a commonplace pursuit for the majority of Spanish adults.

The study also discovered that the most prevalent motives for wagering were for amusement or social engagement.

Lottery games reign supreme as the most favored type of gambling, with the renowned Gordo Christmas lottery drawing participation from 70.8% of the adult populace (approximately 24.5 million individuals). El Niño and La Primitiva lotteries follow closely, trailed by ONCE scratch cards.

The study observes that scratch cards are notably favored among younger bettors, with a majority of participants under the age of 35, despite a decline in the proportion of adults taking part from 9.9% to 9.4%.

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