Exclusive: Spain in talks to join ARJEL-AAMS MoU

The Spanish gambling regulator is in talks to join the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed by ARJEL and AAMS.

The original agreement between the Italian and French regulators was signed in June last year, and was initially designed to share information and discuss shared issues. The key areas of collaboration include regulatory developments, the prohibition of illegal sites, supervision of licensed operators and fraud protection.

All three regulators confirmed the deal, though a spokesperson for ARJEL was keen to stress the agreement was in its early stages and is currently “just a project.”

Francesco Rodano, head of remote gaming at AAMS, said: “I think Spain joining the MoU would be natural. [“¦]It makes sense to add Spain, as that would make their regulated product more attractive.”

Under the current terms of the MoU, the deal is based around information sharing. However, deputy general director of the Spanish regulatory body Juan Carlos Alfonso told eGaming Review that his organisation’s ultimate aim is to work towards a shared European liquidity model:

“After Black Friday, no-one wants to operate in grey areas, and a shared liquidity model will allow us to create a stronger regulatory framework in Europe,” Alfonso explained.

Following the announcement of the ARJEL-AAMS collaboration, an AAMS representative told eGR that the issue had not been discussed, though there was a provision in Italian law allowing French monopoly PMU and Italian horse racing licensees to share liquidity on a number racing events each month. eGR understands that the regulatory bodies may seek to extend this shared liquidity to cover sports betting and poker as the deal evolves, but no timeframe has been agreed.