Calvin Ayre – At long last, Spain looks like it will launch its new regulated slots and exchange betting markets by January 2015. Last week, the Dirección General de Ordenación del Juego (DGOJ) informed Spanish-licensed operators that it expects to receive the European Commission’s blessing on its new slots and exchange betting regulations by June 19. Assuming all goes well, the DGOJ would then submit the final text of the regulations to the government for rubberstamping and publication.
DLA Piper reported that the DGOJ is currently finishing up the technical guidelines for the new products so that operators won’t be flying blind when the tender for applications goes out in September. Operators would have a 30-day window in which to apply. The new slots licenses will be issued simultaneously, ensuring that all operators are ready to charge out the gate when their New Year’s hangovers wear off.
Spain doesn’t intend to put a cap on the number of slots licenses it will issue, but it’s doubtful the expanded online gambling palette will be enough to attract any operators not already holding a DGOJ-issued license. Spain’s regulated online gambling market is already dominated by a handful of licensees so any new operator will not only have to cope with the onerous 25% tax rate but will also have to spend big in order to acquire market share.
