Spanish online slots regulation revealed
Strict player protection measures detailed in draft ministerial order set to be discussed next week
Operators wishing to offer online slots in Spain may be required to inform customers of the time and money spent at the end of each session of play as part of a range of strict player protection measures, eGaming Review can reveal.
The measures are detailed in a draft ministerial order, seen by eGR, which the country’s regulator, Dirección General de Ordenación del Juego (DGOJ), is due to put before the General Council for Gaming Policies (GCGP) at a meeting next Wednesday (19 February).
The draft will then be placed under public consultation for around 15 days before a final ministerial order is published ahead of a go-live date roughly six months thereafter to allow operators to prepare and go to market simultaneously.
The long-awaited implementation of slots could also see customers set cash and time limits before play, with the session automatically ended as soon as the first limit is reached.
According to the draft, customers will also be unable to spend more than what is available in their account once a session is underway as the DGOJ attempts to limit “pathological gambling”.
The approval of online slots will also see a reopening of the Spanish market with operators invited to submit applications for licences with a duration period of five years.
The offer of online slots has been a matter for much debate in Spain with land-based casinos providing vociferous opposition.
It is hoped that the addition of online slots will provide a boost to Spain’s flagging online gaming market which saw gross gaming revenue (GGR) contract by 20% to 51.6m over the course of the first three quarters of 2013.
Last month eGR reported that the DGOJ was considering a change to its online gaming levies following concerns the effect its 25% GGR tax was having on the market.