Plus 500% - many more gambling halls on Mallorca

The number of gambling halls in Mallorca has increased significantly in recent times. According to the island radio, the total number has even doubled in the last five years. Last year alone, 160 new licenses were issued on the island. But where does that come from and does online gambling also play into the rate of increase?

What has led to the increase?

Generally speaking, it must be taken into account that betting shops also play into the figures. Around the World Cup, 100 new betting shops opened. And this is mainly due to the fact that betting shops were still banned on the island until 2014. Thus, there are several factors:

• Pent-up demand - that may be openly addressed. After the relaxation of the laws, Mallorca is now catching up with what is already common elsewhere.
• Popularity - gambling is especially popular among young people. The British World Commission stated that the percentage of young gamblers is higher than the percentage of young people who consume alcohol or drugs.
• Tightening of laws - party miles in particular have had to suffer from tighter laws around noise control and serving. It may well be that the arcades are also in such high demand because they are counted among the closed premises. The celebration landscape is changing and could now well continue late at night in the arcade.

The on-site situation, of course, stems from the new permit for betting shops and is strengthened by the licensing of arcades and casinos.

Online gambling as an alternative

For passionate online gamblers, licensing figures, as they are called for Mallorca, are almost ridiculously small. Because especially on the Internet, it often seems as if there are ten new online casinos or sports betting providers virtually every week. And that's exactly what makes the game so interesting:

• Choice - both the choice of games themselves, but also the choice of casino is huge. It is impossible not to find a casino to your taste. This also applies to online gaming halls where you can play classics like Book of Dead online. An overview of interesting providers can be found here.
• Bonus - almost every provider offers a bonus to new customers, and regular players can also always receive bonuses. However, caution is advised here, or rather, you should look closely. What are the conditions of the bonus? Do players actually "get one on top" or do they lose money just for receiving the bonus?
• Licenses - with the exception of the citizens of Schleswig-Holstein, online casinos are currently almost exclusively with an EU license on the net. The reason for this is the lack of regulation in the individual countries, with Switzerland being an exception. However, this is equally uninteresting for non-Swiss, since the state offers are blocked.

So on vacation in Mallorca can be played in between? No, not necessarily. Mallorca's residents do have access to online casinos, but there could be problems for tourists:

• Country lock - not every online casino is accessible in Mallorca. Moreover, some casinos block access for users from other locations. While it is mostly no problem to reach your favorite casino from mainland Europe or the UK, the Spanish islands are partly excluded. Whether this is the case can be found out via the T&Cs of the respective casino or via the support. Tip: Even if there is no block, the support should be informed of the vacation. Some casinos play it safe and block the account when suddenly logging in from another country.
• Internet - although roaming fees have dropped and it is quite cheap to get online from Mallorca, it does not mean that the internet connection is always excellent. It would be annoying if in the middle of the game the network goes down. In addition, it may be that the WLAN networks of hotels or fincas simply block online gambling.

This means that the online gaming experience could be spoiled on vacation. Those who nevertheless do not want to miss out on gambling can of course test out the local casinos. The Casino Mallorca in Palma is certainly worth a visit. By the way, there is no absolutely strict dress code here, but elegant, informal clothing with closed shoes is sufficient. Shorts, swimwear or sportswear are nevertheless prohibited.

What does the gambling landscape of Mallorca look like at all?

Ultimately, Mallorca is no different from the rest of the world. Here, too, gambling is appreciated. To a certain extent, this is also due to the Spanish culture, because hardly any Spaniard will refrain from participating in the Christmas lottery El Gordo. There are various casinos spread across the island, which are also intended to appeal specifically to vacationers. In return, however, the authorities take more frequent action and impose sanctions on the operators:

• Year 2015 - in that year there were only 52 sanctions imposed on gambling operators.
• Year 2018 - the measures have quadrupled. A total of 215 sanctions were imposed.
• Reasons - controls are now carried out much more closely and strictly than before. The aim is to ensure that only legal gambling is offered. To protect locals and tourists, the controls are also aimed at checking compliance with the protection of minors.

This is precisely what has been a problem in recent years. In pubs, there was practically no hurdle to using the slot machine. Even clearly underage visitors were not prevented from playing. It's anyone's guess, but the tight controls could well be related to the change in rules on Mallorca. The island wants to get away from its reputation as a casual party island where there are hardly any rules and back to a family domicile or vacation spot for well-heeled guests. Quasi uncontrolled gambling is likely to severely disrupt this plan.

Conclusion - Majorca catches up

But mainly due to the removal of the ban on sports betting, although of course other gambling halls are opening new. Holidaymakers can now also rely on close-meshed controls, which by no means only include the protection of minors, but also any manipulation. If you want to gamble from the pool, you should check before your vacation whether your local online casino is accessible from the island. Alternatively, vacationers are of course free to register at a local casino and gamble in this way.