Likely FTP owner hands in "last minute" Spanish application

Groupe Bernard Tapie has applied for a Spanish licence in a last ditch bid to gain a legal foothold in the newly regulating market, eGaming Review has learned.

According to a source close to the matter, the prospective owners of Full Tilt Poker hired a local lawyer to assist it with the necessary documentation and decided to apply for a licence a week ago.

The company, led by Laurent Tapie, the son of flamboyant former Adidas owner Bernard, then presented a preliminary general licence application to the Spanish regulator at the “last minute” yesterday just hours before the midnight deadline, the source added.

“The Spanish administration system allows you to hand in a preliminary application and then allows you 10 days to complete the rest of the information required,” the source said.

eGR has learned that a further 12 applications were handed in on Monday, while another eight forms were presented to the authorities yesterday. Gtech G2 and Microgaming are also understood to have handed in preliminary certificates on Monday, just 24 hours before yesterday’s midnight deadline.

A total of between 30 and 35 individual companies, including private foreign and local authorities, service providers and local media companies are known to have applied. The confirmed total number of applicants should be known later today, according to local sources.

These companies will find out as soon as next week whether or not they have been successful in gaining entry to the sector’s newest market with local media brands being informed ahead of operators and suppliers.