Games of chance and lotteries have been culturally integrated into many societies, accompanying humanity for centuries. We find the first games of chance in history in Mesopotamia, in Assyria, in the year 2,600 BC. C. In Spain, there is a long tradition of gambling, both linked to private and public companies, such as Loterías y Apuestas del Estado, whose first draw dates back to 1812. Since then, the practice of gambling as an option for leisure and fun has grown, evolving and professionalizing to be part of the socialization of the Spanish.

Among the most popular games of chance in Spain we can highlight bingo, pools, lottery (in all its variants), cards, dice, gaming machines, etc. The first gambling halls date back to the 19th century, being linked to cultural or recreational activities and imitating the gentlemen's clubs of British society. The oldest of all Spanish casinos is the Casino de Castellón, which was founded in 1814, followed by the Casino de Madrid, in 1836. Although the origins of bingo date back to 16th century Italy, this game was not legalized in Spain. until 1977, bringing with it the opening of numerous theaters throughout the territory and greatly increasing its popularity. Recreational machines have also been and are very popular in Spain. The first dates back to the end of the 19th century, and they quickly expanded and gained notoriety until today, where they also grow in an online version.

The private gaming sector stands out for having a strategic weight in the Spanish economy as it is linked to others as important to the economy as hospitality, tourism and leisure. It contributes to the generation of 0.45% of Spain's Gross Domestic Product and employs 84,697 people. Entertainment gaming, run by private companies, employs 47,253, while arcade machines in bars supported another 56,191 hospitality jobs in 2021, according to data from CeJuego, the business association that represents the private gaming sector in Spain. Indirectly, this activity generates 175,000 jobs each year. 1,005.3 million of the royal game were allocated to special taxes on this activity to companies, whether from the State (183 million euros) or from the autonomous communities (822.3 million). 1,347 million euros were collected from taxes on prizes, 4.4% more than in 2020.

Resurge

A sector that has re-emerged after the sharp decline it suffered during COVID-19. The amounts played in entertainment games (casinos, bingo halls, halls, "B" machines in bingo halls and others, in-person bets and internal bets at racetracks) amounted to 12,678 million euros in 2021, 34% more than in 2020, according to data from the 2022 CeJuego Game Yearbook.

The casino sector was undoubtedly one of the most affected by the pandemic. 703 million euros were played in them in 2020, 57% less than the 1,670 million a year before. In 2021 the figure played was lower, 666 million euros. Logically, visits to casinos plummeted: 30.6% during the state of alarm period decreed on March 14, 2020 by the Government to 1.8 million visits in 2020 compared to 5.1 million in recorded in 2019. Gaming revenue (tables and "C" machines) fell by 33.3% to 150.2 million euros in 2020 compared to 373.2 million the previous year. Bingo recovered in 2021, and sales reached 1,322 million euros, 15% more than a year before. The entertainment offer in the bingo halls is completed by special “B” machines and betting machines. In 2021, Spaniards spent 207 million euros on games on this type of machines, 17% more than in 2020.

Less spending than in 2019

Although the sector begins to take flight in 2021, it has still not recovered the levels of activity and income of 2019, since, as in all crises, gaming is one of the economic activities that recovers the slowest, especially all in its entertainment aspect. In this way, one of the laws of the game economy is fulfilled: in times of crisis, spending is restricted, since it is a dispensable expense, and its recovery is delayed in relation to the economy as a whole, while more necessary expenses are activated. , experts say.

On the other hand, online gaming returned to its growth path in 2021, although with a tendency to moderate this growth. In 2021, 3,026 million euros were spent on this type of game, 17% more than a year before.

The number of visits to casinos recovers in 2021 with 2.1 million visitors, 20% more than in 2020, but far from the highs of 5.1 million registered in 2019. The average spending per visit in casinos reached at 89.9 euros. 2.3 million were allocated to tips, far from the 7.9 million registered in 2020 and the 28 million in 2019.

The average expense per visit in bingo games was 18.2 euros in 2021, slightly lower than the 19.6 euros in 2020. In the "B" bingo machines the average expense was 3.4 euros in 2021 , the same amount as in 2020.

The CeJuego report differentiates the total amounts played from the "real" amounts, that is, after paying the prizes. In this sense, 9,134 million euros were played in 2021 compared to 6,856 million in 2020, but far from the 10,220 million played in 2019. The real amounts played in entertainment games amounted to 3,970 million euros in 2021, 34%. more compared to 2020, but far from the 4,823 million in 2019.

The actual amounts played in casinos in 2021 amounted to 221 million euros (33% more than in 2020), and far from the 373 million euros in 2019. 336 million were played in bingo in 2021, 11% more, while that larger amounts were played in halls, 802 million (34% more). On "B" machines in bingos, Spaniards spent 62 million, 17% more. But it was in hospitality establishments where the most money was spent on these types of games, 2,252 million in 2021, 43% more than in 2020.