Spain online casinos

Spain Online Casinos

Spain has enjoyed a rich gambling history. Like most European countries in the old times gambling was a favorite pastime activity for royals and peasants alike. During the turbulent 20th century Spain has endured many pitfalls and gambling was banned under General Franco who ruled the country from 1939 until 1975.

In 1977 the ban on gambling was lifted and casinos started spreading in various Spanish tourist resorts and major cities. In addition sports betting which was always popular in Spain, enjoyed an organized revive as legitimate book makers started operating all over the country.

Online gambling gained popularity in Spain around the time when it burst on to the European scene and overtime, after much deliberation, the Spanish government has decided to follow the Italian government in legislating and licensing online casinos so they are able to tax online casino operators and be able to ensure that some of the Spanish money spent on gambling online will be returned to Spain.

The Spanish legislation did not go well with the European Court of Justice that has accused Spain of violating EU law by discriminating against foreign online casinos and taxing revenue from gambling and gamblers profits, while within Spain there was no tax on gambling and profits from local casinos and state-run lotteries were going untaxed.

Spain, like Germany and other EU countries that legislated in some form against online casinos not in accordance with EU law, will need to rethink its current online gambling laws and find a solution that will be within EU legislation.