Betclic and NetEnt among firms poised to enter Spanish market

Betclic-Everest Group and NetEnt are among the list of 12 firms to have applied to enter Spain’s online gaming market, eGaming Review understands.

Earlier this week Spanish regulator La Dirección General de Ordenación del Juego (DGOJ) revealed it had received applications for general licences from a dozen firms during its recent licensing window, which closed on Tuesday (9 December).

Gala Coral brand Eurobet yesterday confirmed it had applied to re-enter a market it exited in 2011 and eGR understands Betclic, NetEnt and the Novomatic Group also feature on the list of new applicants.

Although Betclic said it had “no comment” to make on Spain, a push into the regulated Spanish market would appear to fit with the company’s stated strategy.

In February, chief executive Isabelle Andres told eGR that expansion into regulated markets was a major goal for the firm as it bids to be “viewed as a European operator as opposed to just a French operator”.

Meanwhile, it is believed NetEnt’s Spanish intentions feature the management of a B2B network and customer database, for which an operating licence in Spain is required.

In September, NetEnt chief executive Per Eriksson said the company had been preparing its Spanish licence application as it looked to take advantage of the recent regulation of slots in the country.

Novomatic’s licence submission could well be in preparation for a Spanish launch of its sportsbook subsidiary Admiral, which recently gained an online sports betting licence for the German market.

eGR also understands Austrian company SKS365, which owns sportsbook PlanetWin, Costa Rican outfit BetCris, French slots supplier Recreativos Franco and German gaming provider Gauselmann have also applied to the DGOJ for a permit to enter the market.