Gibraltar-based operators threatened with Spanish taxation
Comments from Spain's foreign minister part of wider political wrangling over British Overseas Territory
Spain’s foreign minister has said the Spanish government could enforce Gibraltar-based egaming companies to use Spanish servers and come under Madrid’s taxation regime.
Speaking in an interview with Spanish media outlet ABC, foreign minister Jose Manuel Garcia-Margallo said that the nation had to review its legislation in many ways. He criticised the stance on Gibraltar taken by Spain’s previous government, declaring “the party is over”.
Online gambling operators also risk being affected by proposals to install a 50 fee to cross the border, with many companies employing Spanish nationals that need to cross the border each day to work and many ex-pat employees choosing to live in Spain.
The claims come amidst increasing political tension between Spain and the UK surrounding the construction of an artificial reef, with Spain declaring the construction to infringe on fishermen’s rights.
Gibraltar-based egaming consultant Peter Marcus said the comments were an attempt to gloss over the country’s deeper problems, including economic difficulties, and called the comments “silliness from the Spanish government”.
A total of 26 egaming companies currently hold licences from Gibraltar’s Gaming Commission, including operators such as Ladbrokes, 888 and bwin.party, as well as technology providers Bally and SHFL Entertainment.