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SpainSpain's online gaming market officially opened on 5 June 2012, with the launch of .es dedicated websites. In the first three quarters of 2013 alone, the Spanish market generated EUR 168 million in gross gaming revenue. But the path to becoming a lucrative regulated online gaming market was a slow and sometimes tortuous one. In 2006, the Spanish government enacted legislation allowing sports betting in shops, in retail outlets and over the internet. Regional governments could impose conditions as they saw fit. Madrid was the first to draft regulations and license conditions. Spain had been reluctant to sanction other forms of online gambling. However, some independent lottery agents for El Gordo had maintained a healthy presence on the web. In 2010, the Sectorial Gaming Commission, consisting of the 17 Autonomous Regions' (AR) gaming authorities, the State Lotteries Monopoly, and the National Gaming Board, met to discuss publishing new draft laws to regulate online gaming. The draft laws would not contain specifics on taxation. Some ARs initiated drafting local regulations. The Region of Madrid issued licenses as soon as operators met specified requirements and extended licenses to existing land-based casinos and bingo halls for offering online betting, casino games and bingo. Then, in 2011, the country's cabinet approved a draft law to regulate all forms of remote gaming. The bill created a new commission to oversee advertising practices, prevent access to unlicensed internet casinos, and implement fines for operators and citizens not adhering to the new gaming laws. Spain's Minister for the Economy estimated a legalized online gambling industry could generate annual revenues of EUR 200 million at the time – a number that turned out to be prescient. In May 2011, the new Gambling Law was endorsed and passed by the Spanish Congress. The law allowed for the establishment and development of online gambling with the exception of games exclusive to the National Lottery (LAE) and Blind Charity Lottery (ONCE). The bill also excluded live in-play betting and bingo, due to the potential for dangerously addictive effects. Spain approved adding slot machines to online casinos in spring 2013, and in October 2014 the country announced it would be awarding licenses to operators wishing to offer slots and other online gaming products. The bill, recognizing there was a thriving "gray" market already in existence in Spain, gave operators until 1 January 2012 to obtain licenses and bring their advertising practices into compliance with regulations. Online gaming licenses needed to be obtained and would be valid for an 18-month period. Companies that had been serving the Spanish market were not sanctioned. But they were required to pay back taxes (up to five years). It is estimated that bwin.party owed EUR 33 million (USD 42 million), Sportingbet approximately GBP 20 million (USD 32 million) and 888 close to EUR 15 million (USD 20 million). Tax rates moving forward ranged from 20% to 25%. Individual licenses must be obtained for each game type provided by the applicant. Licenses are granted to companies willing to house their servers in Spain and operate via a .es domain name. Like France and Italy, Spain segregated its pool of poker players from the rest of the world. Unlicensed operators illegally participating in the Spanish market can face penalties as high as EUR 50 million. In September 2012, ARJEL (France's regulation body) announced it would enter into cooperation with Spain's Dirección General de Ordenación del Juego (DGOJ) to share information about legalized online gambling and help with operating each other's online poker network, but France's parliament nixed the idea of sharing player liquidity for poker. 1 Spain site supports English. with United States Dollars. edit your preferences Spain Jurisdiction News
Spinomenal strengthens Spanish reach with Lowen Play launch
The iGaming content provider bolstered its content partnership with Lowen Play to launch a selection of its games within the regulated Spanish iGaming market. Slingo expands into Spain with SkillOnNet Spanish players will now be able to access the portfolio of bingo-slots hybrid games along with casino games. Gaming Realms launches Slingo content in Spain with Golden Park Top-performers such as Slingo Sweet Bonanza as well as Slingo Startburst are now available to players of the Spanish operator. Mireia Lalaguna shines as the ice queen in Reina del Hielo slot She'll guides players through the five reels to a magical kingdom that features crowns, chests, and jewels to go along with 243 prize lines. International Betting Integrity Association reports 40 suspicious betting alerts in Q1 IBIA’s latest quarterly report also highlights the importance of establishing effective integrity solutions across Latin America, particularly in Brazil. Bragg Gaming strengthens Spanish presence with Platin Casino deal The latest deal for Bragg follows several new partnership agreements across a variety of key European markets as its strategic expansion plans continue to progress. Greentube expands Spanish footprint by launching content with Casino777.es A range of games, including Book of Ra as well as Sizzling Hot are now available to players in Spain for the first time. Loteries de Catalunya adopts Neccton as player safety monitor The AI-driven real-time data analysis software will allow the lottery operator to monitor and identify possible problematic gambling behavior. Play’n GO secures Spanish operating license This license acquisition will allow Play’n GO to expand its presence in the Spanish market, and to continue to supply a gaming experience to Spanish players. Greentube takes content live in Latvia with TonyBet TonyBet, which offers sports betting, online casino and live casino in Latvia, is also set to roll out Greentube content in the regulated market of Spain.
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