Online SPAIN
NEW GAME IN TOWN
Spain’s indebted government grants 277 licences to online gaming operators in the largest ever shake-up of the Spanish gaming and betting market.
Spain has completely shaken up the landscape for online gambling with a staggering 53 companies being awarded a total of 277 internet licences with the hope that a new online sector will generate €800m (US$1bn) half the GGR earned on the Las Vegas Strip.
The deeply indebted Spanish government has not set a limit on the number of licences it will award with only a few so far not meeting the criteria.
According to the industry association 'JDigital', online betting in Spain brought in revenue of around €370m euros in 2011, with that total set to surge to €840m by 2014. Spain’s gambling business as a whole, saw income increase
July 2012 PAGE 32 “We’re pleased to
be among the first wave of regulated operators in Spain and an online marketing
campaign for the
Euros will begin on our first day of operation in line
with the regulatory timetable.”
RICHARD GLYNN, Chief Executive , Ladbrokes.
by €7bn between 2008 and 2010 with €27.3bn being generated in 2010.
Big online firms, such as Sportingbet and
Bwin.party digital, have already been active in Spain's unregulated market, and have been forced to pay backdated tax on their business to ensure that they received licences.
Betfair, for example had to pay a €10m (£8m) tax settlement with the Spanish government to pave the way for its re- entry into the country.
It will now pay a gross 25 per cent tax on its gaming revenues from Spain. Rival online operators William Hill, 888, Bet365 and Ladbrokes have all received licences.
Ladbrokes, who already partners in sports betting retail outfit Sportium with 192 outlets in Madrid and Aragon, said it would launch its new website immediately.
Chief Executive Richard Glynn said: “We’re pleased to be among the first wave of regulated operators in Spain and an online marketing campaign for the Euros will begin on our first day of operation in line with the regulatory timetable.”
Spain’s domestic bricks and mortar gambling companies have naturally done well out of the process.
With 50 bingo halls, five casinos and 140 slot halls in Spain alone, Spanish giant Cirsa was given two general licences and
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