Casinos in Spain: 5 to Visit, Entry Rules, Dress Code and Budget

Monaco and Venice are the best-known casino destinations in Europe, but Spain also has casinos in many parts of the country, a tradition that has grown since gambling was legalized there in 1977.

Many of Spain’s major cities and resort towns, including Madrid, Barcelona and Valencia, have casinos, and they are popular with tourists.

What You Will Learn

• Gambling is legal in Spain, and visitors can play at its licensed casinos.
• Spain has many large, popular casinos, including Casino Barcelona and Casino Gran Vía.

This article takes about 7 minutes to read.

Gambling Is Legal in Spain

Casinos are legal in Spain, and licensed casinos operate throughout the country.

Gambling was once illegal in Spain, and anyone who wanted to play at a casino had to go to neighboring Portugal or France. Casino gambling was legalized in 1977, and today more than 20 casino hotels and casino resorts operate in Spain, mostly in and around the major cities.

Five Recommended Casinos and Casino Resorts in Spain

Note: The information below is as of September 2026. Opening hours, entry fees, age limits, dress codes, minimum bets and the lowest poker stakes may change, so check each casino’s official website before you travel.

Spain has many casino hotels and casino resorts. We have selected five of the most popular. All five have a poker room, and tournaments are held at certain times of the year.

Casino Barcelona

Casino Barcelona sits on the waterfront in the Port Olímpic area of Barcelona, a city popular for its art. The interior has a laid-back, informal feel more like a video arcade than a traditional casino, and the relaxed dress code makes it easy to drop in.

In addition to slots and classic table games such as roulette and baccarat, the casino offers sports betting and poker.

Poker events run every day, and the high-stakes tournaments attract many international players. There is also a bar where you can have a drink while watching sports.

Casino Gran Vía

Casino Gran Vía, in Madrid, Spain’s largest city, brings a casino, a hotel and dining together under one roof. It is known for its house-made food, such as churros with chocolate and tapas, and the hotel, Círculo Gran Vía, Autograph Collection, part of the Marriott group, offers a stay that is anything but ordinary.

The historic gaming room, in a building more than 100 years old, offers classic table games and slots. Poker tournaments are held every day.

Casino Gran Madrid Torrelodones

Casino Gran Madrid Torrelodones, about 30 minutes from central Madrid by free shuttle bus, is a long-established casino that opened in 1981.

The food served in its buffet restaurant, bars and lounge is well regarded, and some guests come mainly to eat.

Its poker room is the largest in Spain, and it has hosted international tournaments such as the European Poker Tour (EPT). The casino also offers all the classic games, including blackjack, roulette and slots.

Gran Casino Sardinero

Gran Casino Sardinero, in the Spanish resort city of Santander, is housed in a handsome building that is one of the city’s best-known landmarks. It regularly hosts art exhibitions, and its restaurant looks out over the Cantabrian Sea, which makes it a popular stop in this scenic resort area.

The gaming floor offers roulette, baccarat and slots. The casino also offers extensive sports betting, with markets on a wide range of sports and leagues, including soccer, baseball, basketball and tennis.

In Formula 1, you can even place niche bets such as which driver will set the fastest lap, which adds interest while you watch a race.

Casino CIRSA Valencia

Casino CIRSA Valencia, in Valencia, Spain’s third-largest city, has a reputation for food that stands out even in a country known for its cuisine. Dinner at the restaurant is reasonably priced, and some packages include all-you-can-drink options.

The casino offers roulette, slots, baccarat and other games. Some slot machines have jackpots of €10,000 or more, but the chance of hitting one is extremely low, and ordinary spins steadily eat into your bankroll.

If you sign up for the Cirsa Winner Club membership card and collect points, you can receive high-roller benefits. Benefits and sign-up conditions may change, so check the official website.

Key Features of Casinos in Spain

What Is the Minimum Age for Entry?

Casinos in Spain are generally open only to people aged 18 and over. Anyone under 18 is turned away even when accompanied by a parent or guardian, so if you are traveling with children, you will need to make other arrangements, such as using a hotel kids’ club or childcare service.

Age is checked at the entrance, so always bring your passport to the casino. A driver’s license from your home country is generally not accepted as ID.

Entry Fees

Some casinos in Spain charge an entry fee. Depending on the casino, you may need to pay around €3–5 at the entrance.

Some casinos waive the fee with a coupon from their official website, and others do not charge foreign visitors at all, so check the official website before you go.

What to Wear: Dress Codes

By European standards, dress codes at Spanish casinos are fairly relaxed.

The general standard is smart casual. Some casinos, such as the one in Barcelona, admit guests in sportswear, but it is safer to avoid sandals and shorts.

For men, a polo shirt with chinos and sneakers is fine. For women, a dress, a skirt or trousers is fine. Standards vary by casino and time of day, so check each casino’s official website before you travel.

Remove hats, sunglasses and anything else that covers your face, with the exception of face masks.

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How Much Should You Budget for Gaming?

Spanish casinos are known for their low minimum bets.

On electronic blackjack terminals, for example, the minimum bet can be as low as €2 at the least expensive casinos. Slots cost only a fraction of a euro per spin, so €50–100 is a reasonable budget for casual play.

However, most casinos in Spain have a poker room, and if poker is your main goal you will need a larger budget. Around €500 is a reasonable budget for a serious session, and if you plan to enter high-stakes tournaments, bring enough to cover re-entries with room to spare.

Poker room stakes vary by time of year

In many poker rooms, the lowest-stakes game is €1/€3 No-Limit Hold’em (NLH). At busy times, such as during an EPT event, the lowest stakes for both NLH and Pot-Limit Omaha (PLO) are often €5/€5. Check each casino’s official website for the tournament schedule in advance.

What to Keep in Mind at Casinos in Spain

Photography is generally prohibited inside the casino, and be careful how you use your phone while playing

You can bring your smartphone into a casino in Spain, but taking photos or videos inside is prohibited. You may want to capture the lavish interiors, but doing so breaks the house rules, so don’t. If you want a photo, take it at the casino entrance.

Using your phone while playing table games such as blackjack or roulette can raise suspicions of cheating, so it is best to avoid it.

Beginner-Friendly Games to Play in Spain

The two games covered here have simple rules, so you can play them on your first day.

Baccarat

Baccarat is a game in which you bet on whether the Player hand or the Banker hand will finish closer to 9. A winning Player bet pays 1 to 1, so a $10 bet wins $10. A winning Banker bet also pays 1 to 1 but is subject to a 5% commission, so a $10 bet wins $9.50. Another feature unique to baccarat is that the player with the largest bet at the table gets to squeeze the cards. The rules are explained in detail in a separate article.

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Roulette

Roulette is a game in which you bet on which pocket the ball will land in. A bet on red or black pays 1 to 1, so a $10 bet wins $10, and a straight-up bet on a single number pays 35 to 1, so a $10 bet wins $350. The different types of bets are explained in a separate article.

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Summary: Since Legalizing Casinos in 1977, Spain Has Become Home to Many Relaxed, Accessible Casinos

Since casinos were legalized in 1977, elegant casino hotels and casino resorts have opened in many Spanish cities.

The options range from a casino with the informal feel of a video arcade to a casino hotel in a building more than 100 years old and casino resorts known for their food, each offering something different.

Poker is especially popular in Spain, and it is worth learning the rules before you go so you can sit down at a competitive table. If you are new to casinos, you could try sports betting while watching a game at the bar, or start with slots and roulette, which have low minimum bets.

Plan your casino visit around the rest of your trip.