Exclusive: 16 operators ready to submit Spanish licence applications
Egaming Review has learned that 16 private European operators have completed, or are close to completing, a general licence in order to enter the newly regulating Spanish market.
As many as 16 European and 14 local operators and media companies could be just 24 hours away from submitting applications for a Spanish licence should a Ministerial order be signed in, as expected, before Sunday’s general election.
Egaming Review has learned that 16 private European operators have completed, or are close to completing and submitting, an exhaustive amount of paperwork in order to apply for a general Spanish online gambling licence ahead of the market opening on 1 January next year.
Sources close to the matter have informed eGaming Review that Pokerstars, Bet365, Bwin (joint venture with PartyBets), Ladbrokes, Miapuesta (Sportingbet), Paf, 888, William Hill, Bet-at-home, BetVictor, Betfair, Lottomatica, Snai (decision pending), Titanbet, NetBet, Bongiorno have all applied for a general licence worth an initial 2m.
Ten others including Paddy Power, StanJames, Interapuestas, (Interwetten), Unibet, Bet3000, 21kbet, Salsabet, Mybet, Bet770 are said to be still undecided as to whether to purchase a general licence.
However, eGaming Review has also learned that around 10 operators will not apply for a licence, at least in the first phase. These are said to include: Expekt, Betclic, Betcris, 10bet, 12bet, Betdaq, Betfred, Bet24, Gamebookers, Pinnacle.
Spain’s Ministry of Economy & Finance this morning published two royal decrees outlining the licence application process and system requirements for operators and providers with only a Ministerial order standing in the way of companies from submitting their applications.
A legal source in Spain told eGR this could happen as soon as tomorrow. “The decrees establish the requirements for licensees and providers, now they have to publish the Ministerial Order which will open the window for licence applications and establish the base [with which] to present applications as well as the timeframe.
“They might publish it tomorrow as it does not need to be signed by the Minister and the regulator can do it directly,” he added. The order could be the current government’s last act before, if polls are correct, it is replaced in a landslide victory by a majority Conservative government on Sunday.
Once this is in place Spanish regulator Juan Carlos Alfonso and his team will have just over a month in which to assess applications and announce which companies have earned the right to begin operating in January.
Provisional licences will initially be granted with foreign operators in the best position to automatically switch on their dot.es sites. Local operators however, could struggle in the first few months with many yet to select and partner with the necessary poker network and software suppliers. Provisional licences will be in place until each licence is fully verified early next year.
Casino Gran Madrid is one of the only local land-based operators to have selected a supplier launching online with Playtech last month. Microgaming, GTECH G2, Playtech and Ongame are all said to be in the running for contracts in the coming weeks before licences are awarded.
Spanish land-based operators and media organisations known to be applying for a licence include: Grupo Orenes, Cirsa, Codere, Casino Mediterráneo, Egasa, Casino Gran Madrid, Casino Barcelona, Grupo Comar, Casino Nervión, Prisa, T5, A3, Marca, Casino Association of Spain.
According to several operators eGR has spoken to the Spanish licensing process has been exhaustive. The legal source added that each general licence application amounts to an average of two kilos in paperwork.
Both operators and poker networks will be eligible to pay as as much as 25% of GPT and 25% of revenue share respectively. Slots, video poker and sports betting exchange will not be permitted under the new regime, however it is thought a new government could re-examine this once it is in place.