Spanish regulator to award new licences by next month
La Dirección General de Ordenación del Juego says it will award licenses after slots and exchange betting legislation comes into force on 27 May
The Spanish regulator, La Dirección General de Ordenación del Juego (DGOJ), has confirmed that legislation legalising and regulating online slots and exchange betting will come into force on 27 May.
The regulator also said that once the legislation became law, it would inform applicants whether they would receive their general and singular licenses by 2 June.
BetClic Everest and Net Ent are among the 12 firms that applied to enter the Spanish market after the regulator re-opened its licensing window back in November last year.
It is the first time new operator have been able to apply for licenses since Spain launched its regulated market in June 2012, after finally rubber-stamping the regulation of slots and exchange betting in July 2014.
The addition of slots and exchange betting is expected to breathe new life into the Spanish egaming market, which grew 11% year-on-year in 2014.
The new operator’s entering the market are likely to face tougher advertising restrictions after the DGOJ recently introduced a draft regulatory code.
The guidelines include restricting online gambling adverts to be broadcast only between 10pm and 6am each day, and to block egaming ads appearing in media directed at minors.
The bill would also limit sponsorship partnerships, and place tough restrictions on sponsorship promotions aimed at minors, and through channels targeted directly at them.