There was hardly room for everybody at the meeting room of the Intercontinental Hotel in Madrid where held yesterday the Online Gambling Conference. The whole spanish and european industry went to hear and discuss the future of online gambling. 

Kimberley Allan, Director of Awedacity said the welcome words from the organizers. Eduardo Antoja, President of FACOMARE opened the sessions.

The panel was moderated by Xavier Muñoz Bellvehí,  Managing Partner of Legal Link

Moves towards regulation of online gambling in Spain

The exhibition began by María Ángeles González, Technical Secretary General from the Ministry of Interior, National Game Commission (Comisión Nacional del Juego), which said the government is studying regularize the game with an emphasis on sensitive groups, and taking into account market conditions and rates and taxes . The government wants to regulate the game because, in her words, afraid that it can border in criminal.

This will provide a regulatory update awaited strategic vision of the market for Spanish operators and international operators

Fernando Prats, Director General of Taxation and Gaming Autonomous Government of Madrid , spoke about the game situation in most European countries, banned in most of them emphasised that it won't be the case in Spain. On the future regulation of online gambling has made it clear that the Community of Madrid is an essential requirement that the company is registered in Madrid, and defining the game as a service, according to the Directive 2008/112/ICE , which considers the service if the player is in the autonomic and the company too. The territoriality of the game online is not liked by employers in the sector claiming simplificaión of law.

Luis Miguel González Gago, Secretary General of Interior and Justice, Autonomous Government of Castilla y León provided details of how the regulatory programme is progressing and what the resultant landscape may look like.

Is Spain ready for a regulated online gambling market?
Other general topics like the debate if Spain is ready for a regulated online gaming market was debated by panel composed by Fernando Ors Chief Development  Officer of Codere, Alberto Eljarrat of Sportium Betfair and Sacha Michaud of Betfair Spain

Internet Poker in Spain
The morning debate was closed with a panel session about internet poker in Spain with participation of Juan Barrachina, Chairman of the Spanish Poker Association, Albert Agustinoy from legal firm Cuatrecasas, and Carlo Gualandri from Gioco Digitale. They debated how poker is likely to be treated under the forthcoming regulatory regime.


Soon, you can find more detailed information of each of the covered topics in our site.