Is it legal to play at an unlicensed casino from Spain?

Spanish gambling law — specifically the Ley 13/2011 — targets operators, not individual players. There is no provision in Spanish law that criminalises the act of placing a bet at an unlicensed casino as a player. However, the operator offering the service is committing a very serious offence carrying fines of up to 50 million euros. The practical risk for players is not criminal prosecution but the absence of any regulatory protection: no dispute resolution, no fund segregation, and no recourse if the operator refuses to pay or misuses personal data.

What is the difference between a casino without a DGOJ licence and a completely illegal operator?

The term casino sin licencia covers a spectrum. At one end are operators holding legitimate licences from international jurisdictions such as Malta MGA, Gibraltar, or the Curaçao Gaming Authority — they are licensed, but not in Spain. At the other end are entirely unlicensed operations: script casinos running cloned templates with no regulatory oversight from any jurisdiction. Both are unauthorised under Spanish law, but the practical risk profile differs enormously.

Do you have to declare winnings from an unlicensed casino on your Spanish tax return?

Yes. Spain's tax code requires declaring all gambling winnings regardless of where they were earned or whether the operator holds a DGOJ licence. Winnings are reported under ganancias patrimoniales in the IRPF declaration. The complication for players at unlicensed casinos is that they often lack the transaction documentation that DGOJ-licensed operators provide automatically.

What payment methods do casinos sin licencia typically accept?

Offshore casinos generally accept Visa and Mastercard, e-wallets such as Skrill, Neteller, and MiFinity, bank transfers, and increasingly, cryptocurrencies — Bitcoin, Ethereum, USDT, and Litecoin being the most widely accepted. Crypto payments are particularly prevalent because they bypass traditional banking intermediaries and KYC requirements.

What methods does the DGOJ use to prevent access to unlicensed casinos?

The DGOJ uses a multi-layered approach including ISP-level DNS blocking, credit card payment monitoring, Bitcoin gambling transaction monitoring, and fines ranging from 1 million to 50 million euros on operators. In 2025, this resulted in 229 blocked portals covering 2,961 web pages.

What happens if an unlicensed casino refuses to pay out your winnings?

In practical terms, very little. At a DGOJ-licensed operator, you can file a complaint with the regulator. At an unlicensed operator, none of these mechanisms exist. If the operator holds a Malta MGA or Gibraltar licence, you can file a complaint with that jurisdiction's regulator, but enforcement across borders is slow and uncertain.

Are casinos with a Curaçao licence safe for Spanish players?

The answer changed significantly in 2025. Since the LOK reform took effect in December 2024, all sub-licences have expired, and operators must hold direct licences from the Curaçao Gaming Authority. The new framework introduces player fund requirements and a complaints procedure. However, no Curaçao licence authorises an operator to serve Spanish players under the Ley 13/2011. Safer than before is accurate. Safe is not a claim any Curaçao licence can support.

Privacy Policy | SINBANCA

Last updated: 19 junio 2026

SINBANCA («we», «us», «our») operates the website casinolibrelicencia.com (the «Site»). This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, and protect information when you visit the Site.

Information We Collect

We collect limited data to operate and improve the Site. This includes information automatically collected through cookies and similar technologies, such as your IP address, browser type, device type, pages visited, time spent on pages, and referring URLs. We do not require registration or collect personal information such as names, email addresses, or payment details through the Site.

How We Use Information

The information we collect is used to analyse website traffic and usage patterns, improve the content and user experience of the Site, ensure the Site functions correctly across devices and browsers, and comply with legal obligations.

Cookies and Tracking Technologies

The Site uses cookies and similar technologies. For detailed information about the cookies we use and how to manage your preferences, please see our Cookie Policy at casinolibrelicencia.com/cookie-policy/.

Third-Party Services

We may use third-party analytics services to help us understand how visitors interact with the Site. These services may collect information sent by your browser, including cookies and your IP address. Each third-party service operates under its own privacy policy.

Data Retention

Analytics data is retained only for as long as necessary to fulfil the purposes described in this policy. Aggregated, non-identifiable data may be retained indefinitely for trend analysis.

If you are located in the European Economic Area (EEA) or the United Kingdom, you have the right to access the personal data we hold about you, request correction of inaccurate data, request deletion of your data, object to or restrict processing of your data, and request data portability. To exercise any of these rights, please contact us using the details provided below.

Data Transfers

Your data may be transferred to and processed in countries outside the EEA or UK. Where such transfers occur, we ensure appropriate safeguards are in place in accordance with applicable data protection law.

Children’s Privacy

The Site is not directed at individuals under the age of 18. We do not knowingly collect personal information from minors. If you believe we have inadvertently collected data from a minor, please contact us so we can take appropriate action.

Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. Changes will be posted on this page with an updated revision date. Continued use of the Site after changes constitutes acceptance of the revised policy.

Contact

If you have questions about this Privacy Policy or wish to exercise your data protection rights, please contact us through the Site.