Spain to open new licensing window in Q4
Window for general and single-vertical licences expected to be the country’s last for a “very long time”
Spain is expected to open a third licensing window in Q4 2017, EGR Intel understands.
Juan Espinosa Garcia, the director general of Dirección General de Ordenación del Juego (DGOJ), is pushing for the window and has indicated to advisors it should go live before the end of this year, pending official approval from the country’s minister of finance.
According to Spanish gaming consultant Eduardo Morales Hermo, it could be the country’s “last licensing window – at least for a very long time,” with unlimited general and single-vertical licences available.
Hermo added the window could be delayed until Q1 2018 should the DGOJ decide they have other priorities this year, although Garcia is pushing for the quicker timeframe.
Operators hoping to apply for a licence would be required to comply with the tender requirements and have a base within the European Economic Area.
At present, operators looking to enter the market must do so through the formation of joint-ventures or via mergers and acquisitions – Betsson for example recently agreed to buy locally licensed operator Premier Casinos in order to gain access to Spanish customers.
The new window could also be accompanied by tweaks to existing gambling legislation, including more restrictions on advertising, fewer limits on betting and casino games variants, and specific regulation for DFS.
Spanish revenues increased by a third to €429m in 2016, with sportsbook and casino up 32% and 73% year-on-year respectively. Turnover also surpassed the €10bn mark.
Early figures for 2017 suggest annual revenues will pass €500m.