Spain’s gaming operators oppose introduction of online slots

The recently completed consultation by Spanish regulators on the desirability or otherwise of following the Italian lead by permitting online slot and betting exchange action has thrown up some land-based opposition.

FEMARA, a national trade association of Spanish gambling operators, is one of the organisations that responded to the consultation, noting its objection to any regulation of online slots.

In its submission the trade body references and supports with the 2011 decision of the Spanish government not to include online slots in any regulations pertaining to e-gaming.

Perhaps more revealingly, the FEMARA response also expresses fears that the introduction of online slots by internet operators might adversely impact their offline businesses, which it claims employ tens of thousands of Spaniards and generates some Euro 800 million in taxable revenues.

The Spanish regulator Dirección General de Ordenación del Juego is currently considering suggestions and complaints on the issue and is scheduled to deliver its decision by late April this year.

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