Exclusive: 80% of operators handed Spanish licence pre-approvals
Sources say regulator has notified majority of applicants they are "in shape" and that they should expect licence approvals in "coming weeks".
Eighty per cent of operators applying for licences in Spain have received pre-approval notifications from the regulator, local sources have revealed to eGaming Review.
More than 40 of the 50-plus operators applying for licences in the soon-to-be-regulated Spanish market have seen their applications deemed adequate ahead of the issuing of licences next month, and are now just waiting for final approval before being named in the first wave of licensees, according to a number of sources close to the matter.
Regulators are expected to give 15 days notice before awarding the first wave of licences at the same time. An announcement giving this notice is “just weeks away”, according to one local source. “They have been notified that the majority of them have complied with requirements,” he said. It is unclear at this stage as to whether any companies have failed to meet the standards required by the Spanish regulator.
“They have been told that they are in shape so they can expect licence approvals in a matter of weeks,” he added.
However some international suppliers that have struck deals with local land-based casinos and media groups, however are known to be behind schedule with one unnaned service provider battling to be ready for a possible opening next month.
“International gaming companies are at an advantage at the moment and, as soon as they are told they have a licence, they will be able to simply plug out their dot.com operations [facing Spanish customers] and plug in their dot.es operations. Others, that have signed agreements with the likes of Playtech and GTECH G2 could be further behind,” he added.
According to a lawyer that represents a number of gaming companies there the recent court ruling against Sportingbet’s MiApuesta brand “ the result of an injunction filed by land-based operator Codere with a Madrid court “ is unlikely to have any practical impact on the London-listed operator.
“Once the licences have been granted MiApuesta will have administrative authority to allow them to operate so the measures will not be affective anymore,” he explained.
“The conclusion is this is not something that could affect the industry in general or the regulatory process, and is just an isolated issue,” he added.
The lawyer also noted that Codere has filed a number of similar injunctions in other courts with little success.