The Spanish government and the country’s economic bodies started monitoring the prices of online betting games. In this way, authorities seek to understand how inflation influences consumer behavior in the digital economy.
The measure came after the Spanish National Statistics Institute (INE) included online betting games in a new monitoring category of the Consumer Price Index (IPC). Furthermore, the update integrates the Base 2025 methodology, created to reflect changes in the population’s consumption habits.
The new model takes into account the growth of online shopping. At the same time, it takes into account the impacts of global economic uncertainties on prices.
Although betting games have been part of the inflation basket since 2017, INE has only now incorporated trends in the online segment into the official methodology. Meanwhile, other digital products also joined the index, including streaming services and online subscriptions.
How Spain will monitor online gambling prices
To put the change into practice, INE adopted new digital data collection tools. With this, the agency expanded its ability to monitor activities carried out over the internet.
The institute obtains prices directly from the main operators in the market. To do this, it uses web scraping techniques, which automatically extract information from different online platforms.
In a statement, INE authorities explained that the inclusion of online betting games follows the same trend applied to other digital segments. Furthermore, the model strengthens the analysis of consumption habits and increases the precision of economic indicators.
Spanish economic agencies supported updating the methodology. According to the assessment of the responsible bodies, the new system will make it possible to better monitor changes in consumption and will contribute to the formulation of economic policies.
What changes with the inclusion of betting games in the index
The update comes at a time of attention to inflation indicators in Spain. Preliminary data showed that the country’s harmonized inflation reached 3.6% in May 2026.
Meanwhile, the Eurozone average was 3.0%. Germany registered 2.7%, while Italy had a rate of 3.3%.
With the change, Spain joins a restricted group of European countries that consider gambling in official inflation calculations. On the other hand, relevant markets such as the United Kingdom and Ireland still keep these expenses outside the main price indicators.
The decision reinforces the adaptation of statistical bodies to new forms of digital consumption. Furthermore, it demonstrates the growing economic relevance of online gambling within the behavior of European consumers.
