Although the Italians patented the Dolce Vitait is clear that In Spain, you also enjoy a lifestyle that prioritizes tasty food.the sun on the terraces, good conversations with friends and laughter.
THE the majority of Spaniards are appreciate. It is something that differentiates Spain from the rest of Europe and makes it a destination chosen by all types of international touristswho come to this land to enjoy, even for a few weeks, the gastronomy and local customs.
NOW, What do Spanish people do for fun in their free time? Well, the activities are very varied and also fascinating. They can go from playing a few chips at the casino to laughing out loud at the cinema with an acid film of national production. In this article, we will review a few of them.
games of chance
He already says it Mediterranean Joan Manuel Serrat’s popular song: “I’m a singer, I’m a liar / I like games and wine / I have the soul of a sailor.” Even if the musical theme can be considered exaggerated, it is true that the game is imprinted in the Iberian DNA.
Music, billiards, poker, slot machines, the Christmas lottery. Spanish society has always been plagued by gambling. Actually, Spain was one of the first countries in Europe to regulate the online gaming marketin 2011. This law is the one that remains in force in the territory.
Even despite the maturity of this place, continues to grow at an astonishing rate. According to data from the General Directorate of Gambling Regulation, deposits and withdrawals increased by 15.5% and 10.13% respectively last year.
In the same way, The number of active players is increasing at a rate of 2.69% per yearusing the latest available data. In total there are over 1,637,819 active players in Spain.
That is, although it is a mature market, especially when compared to other places in the world that do not even have ad hoc regulations for the online sector, such as some countries in America Latin, Physical and online gaming in Spain continues to grow.
This surprises both locals and others and is reflected in the quality of the online gaming offering in Spain and in the measures to combat fraud, scams and problem gambling available at licensed casinos in the European country.
sports betting
Marc Márquez (motocycling), Rafa Nadal and Carlos Alcaraz (tennis), Fernando Alonso (F1), Carolina Marín (badminton) or Mireia Belmonte (swimming). The team responsible for winning the last Euro Cup. The truth, There are many names of Spanish athletes who stand out on the international stage.
With such primacy in the international sporting public sphere, It is no surprise that sports fans in Spain are also turning to betting. to support professionals who believe they will win.
According to data from the General Directorate for the Regulation of Games of Chance, Last year in Spain there were 491,795,881 betswhich implied an annual variation of 36% compared to the previous year, 2022. This was well before the Euro Cup victory and the astronomical growth of Carlos Alcaraz in Grand Slam.
In other words, interest in sports betting in Spain is unwaveringThis is largely due to the passion fans feel towards their favorite athletes and teams.
Because the country is very well represented in sports like tennis, Formula 1, motorcycling or badminton, The sports betting market has grown alongside the achievements of its national stars. This growth is also driven by technological advances and exhaustive regulations which guarantee security and transparency to stakeholders.
Cinema and films
Cinema and films constitute another popular form of entertainment in the Iberian territory. According to Statista data, cinemas in Spain have not yet been able to fully recover. Box office revenue in 2019 reached 615 million, a figure that will only be repeated next year, with an estimate of 613 million. Of course, for the years to come, growth is expected to reach 680 million euros in 2027.
The current slowdown, in addition to the post-pandemic effect, is partly due to the streaming dominationwith quality options on Netflix, Amazon Prime and Disney. Without going any further, the latest film by Juan Antonio Bayona, one of the most profitable directors in Spanish cinema, was only symbolically released in theaters.
That is to say, even if The Snow Society It debuted at the box office in December 2023, this premiere was mainly intended to be able to apply for awards like the Oscar or the Goya. Most people only watched it on Netflixsince this company produced it for its catalog.
Live shows
According to the latest Survey on Cultural Habits and Practices in Spain, carried out by the Ministry of Culture in 2022, 19.9% of the population attended a stage or musical show in the past year.
Even if this figure, the latest official one available, is now two years old and is distorted by the effects of the end of the pandemic, the data it reveals is interesting. For example, in the period studied, attendance is more common among women and young people.
Regarding theatrical preferences, 35.9% opted for current theater, followed by musical theater (20.5%) and classical theater (14.4%). In addition, most people who attended these events did so over a weekendand the ticket was purchased mainly online in 63.4% of cases, demonstrating a shift towards digital ticket purchasing platforms.
When respondents were asked about their motivations for choosing a show, they highlighted the interest in the subject, reputation of the artists, and recommendation from family and friends.
In a changing environment, certain activities remain
Although Spaniards’ tastes and entertainment habits are constantly changing, some things don’t change. For example, casino and betting have established themselves as an integral part of entertainment in Spain, merging tradition and modernity.
With a well-regulated market and quality offering In both the physical and online spheres, the industry continues to attract interest from new and experienced players. Likewise, the love of cinema and live performance continues to be a fundamental element of entertainment in Spain.
