New data from The General for the Regulation of Gambling shows a notable increase in female participation within the regulated gambling market in Spain. According to the latest figures, more than 300,000 women are now actively gambling online, representing approximately 17% of the country’s 2 million active players.
Regulators note that female participation has been steadily rising over the past five years, with particularly strong growth recorded between 2023 and 2024. The expansion comes despite stricter regulatory measures introduced in recent years, including tighter deposit limits and enhanced responsible gambling requirements. Even under these stricter conditions, licensed operators have continued to grow their customer bases.
The growth in female participation is largely driven by younger players. Women under the age of 35 now account for 59.4% of all active female gamblers in Spain.
Industry analysis shows that the fastest expansion occurred among the youngest adult players, with annual growth rates exceeding 30% in this group. Overall, the largest share of players falls within the 18–34 age bracket, highlighting the strong presence of younger adults in the market.
Players aged 18–24 represent about 25% of the user base, while those aged 25–34 make up another 35%. These trends suggest that operators may need to adapt marketing strategies and platform experiences to better appeal to younger audiences.
The report also points to changing gaming preferences. Female players in Spain show a strong interest in sports betting and online casino games, which now outperform traditional verticals such as bingo and online poker.
Over the past five years, deposits from female players have increased by 117%, slightly outpacing the overall market growth of 101% during the same period. However, on average, female players still deposit less than the broader player base. In 2024, women deposited an average of €2,019, compared with the market average of €2,482.
The data also highlights differences in betting behavior. Female players tend to deposit funds more consistently throughout the week, unlike the wider market where activity typically peaks on weekends.
