Spanish slots and exchange set for January 2015 launch
Operators given 30 days to apply for one of an unlimited number of licences, however new operators may be in short supply
Spain looks set to regulate online slots and betting exchange products in January next year after setting out the timetable for operators at a meeting in Madrid earlier this week.
The Spanish regulator Dirección General de Ordenación del Juego (DGOJ) told operators it had submitted its eagerly awaited regulation to the European Commission (EC) in March and confirmed it expected to receive a response by 19 June.
When in receipt of the returned regulation, the DGOJ will approve Ministerial Orders for online slots, exchange betting, the opening of a licensing window and the regulation of responsible gambling and advertising.
It will then be a further six months before the changes go live, with providers and operators required to certify products and platforms in the interim period.
The DGOJ will award licences to all applicants on the same day and launch the new verticals simultaneously.
While there will be no limit on the number of licences awarded by the Spanish regulator, all new licensees will have 30 days in which to apply for general or single licences.
Just how many new entrants to the market the new licensing window brings remains to be seen, however, some observers believe the number of new applicants could be small given the difficulty in gaining market share coupled with the 25% tax rate.
“The market is pretty full and is difficult to gain a relevant market share to make it worthwhile for a newcomer,” Spanish gaming consultant Eduardo Morales-Hermo said.
The majority of interest is expected to come from operators already active in Spain.
“There will be some companies who believe they have a chance with the strong sports betting markets and slots improving the casino offer,” Morales-Hermo said.