Poll: Will slots solve Spain's black market problem?

The arrival of slots to the portfolio of games on offer in Spain’s regulated market inched closer at the weekend after the country’s regulator began accepting applications for its long-awaited slots licenses.

The product, which has been absent from Spain’s regulated market ever since it first opened its doors in the summer of 2012, is expected to go live in Q1 2015 and history suggests its introduction will provide a boost to the country’s online casino operators.

The Italian casino market grew by around 60% in 2013 after it introduced slots late in 2012 and if similar growth is to be seen in Spain, the likes of 888, bwin.party and William Hill are all set to benefit.

However, Spain has been plagued by a persistent and stubborn black market with some recent estimates having placed around 70% of the casino market in the hands of unlicensed operators.

Many observers believe the lack of slots in the regulated environment has acted as an incentive for consumers to remain loyal to unlicensed operators and its regulated introduction will see customers begin to migrate to licence holders once they are able to provide the popular games.

One of the reasons given for why the UK is unlikely suffer a similar black market problem with its re-regulated market is that it has, unlike Spain, been able to open with a full suite of products capable of competing with the black market from the off.

However, others believe slots will do little to reduce the black market with licensed operators hamstrung by strict consumer protection requirements while the burden of taxation could well result in less attractive pay out rates when compared to their unlicensed rivals.

With this in mind, for this week’s poll eGaming Review is asking whether you feel the addition of slots to the regulated Spanish market will reduce black market activity in the country.

Have your say on the right-hand side of the page.