New gambling licensing policies

THE Spanish government has agreed on over 100 amendments to the framework of its policies with regard to granting licenses to operators wishing to offer online gaming to customers in Spain. The legal establishment of a tax regime and a licensing system for operators in the Spanish jurisdiction will also include measures to ensure problems associated with online gambling such as underage usage and addiction are addressed.

The amendments provide the gambling sector with regulatory bodies such as a Council for Gaming Policy and a National Gaming Commission representing every region in Spain.

The licensing system now proposed by the amended and approved bill, will require all online gambling companies wanting to offer their services in Spain to apply and receive a license that remains valid for an eighteen month period.

The great benefit for a lot of regions around Spain from this new sort of license will be the set up of autonomous communities. This means that much of the new tax proceeds will be distributed to the autonomous regions.

Any company that does not obtain a license will not be allowed to advertise and promote online poker within Spain.

Let’s hope this is the also the start of trying to look for ways to legislate for poker to be played-live-in more venues other than just the casinos.

If you are trying to legislate for hundreds of thousands of players online, then is it fair that there are only 2 live venue options for you to play here on the Costa del Sol, that the minimum cost to play is 100€ and numbers are restricted to 60 players most nights?

Surely tournament poker licenses can be issued to licensed bars or clubs and make them contribute to the local tax fund!!