Spanish betting market receives Andalucia boost

Spain’s biggest omni-channel operators have been put on red alert after the country’s largest state published plans to regulate retail betting, which would enable firms to offer the same products through both online and land-based channels for the first time.

The government of Andalucia yesterday unveiled a draft regulation which will see the development of potentially the largest retail market in the country and allow local shops to offer digital products.

While online betting and gaming has been live in Andalucia since national regulation in 2012, operators have so far been prevented from offering omni-channel betting products with retail regulation, unlike online, governed on a regional basis.

The new regulation, which is not due to go live until 2017, is expected to pique the interest of major retail operators such as Sportium, the Ladbrokes’ joint-venture with Cirsa and the former William Hill-Codere JV, Codere Apuestas.

Speaking to eGaming Review, gaming consultant Eduardo Morales-Hermo said while the retail industry had the most to gain from regulation, omni-channel operators are also be set to benefit.

“The main boost will be to the retail sports betting segment which was not regulated in Andaluc?­a as yet, and the possibility to make an omni-channel offer in the region by adding the online and mobile offer for the same retail product,” Morales-Hermo said.

“Andaluc?­a, being the largest region will become a big objective for retail betting operators like Sportium, Codere and other two major local operators Kirolsoft and Reta and some of their white labels brands,” he added.

Spain’s online sportsbook market recently posted a positive set of 2015 numbers with revenues up 40% to ?179m across the 12 months.