Spanish regulator is keen on international player pooling

The newly appointed director of Spanish online gambling regulator DGOJ, Carlos Hernandes, has given a public indication of his support for the concept of shared international player pools, and expressed the hope that agreements could evolve by next year.

Hernandes gave his views in an interview with the Spanish poker information site PokerRed, revealing that discussions on shared player pools have been held with French, Italian and Danish regulators, and that at least another three meetings are planned over the next few months as the advantages and possible pitfalls are ironed out.

Although he defends the strategy of ring-fenced national markets as better protecting players and giving regulators more control, Hernandes has, like his counterparts in other markets, taken into account the realities of the markets and the downward trend in business, concluding that a more widespread player market may be the better way to go.

However, the new regulator cautioned that a lot more work lies in front of regulators before agreements can be signed and dates set.