Signs of Growth: Online Poker Up 17% in Spain

Mixed news from the online poker scene in Spain this week, just eight months after gaming became subject to national regulation: Q4, the end of 2012, has shown a healthy increase of 41% in gross gambling revenue. Online gambling went up 17%, bringing in €17.4 million. Revenue from online tournaments went up from 16% to 21%. In addition, poker cash games showed signs of growth.

Before then, during Q3, gambling activity in Spain all but ground to a halt, when unemployment figures reached a painful 30%. Perhaps things are further picking up in 2013?

Online Gambling Spain

Since 2011, the Spanish government recognized the need to fill the legal vacuum and regulate the gambling industry, especially the remote gambling industry. Therefore all hands were on deck to finalize the National Gaming Regulations, which were duly announced on June 1 2012. 

And regulated it is, with stakes limited to €10. Gaming operators are taxed an impressive 25% on gross gambling revenue, something they are trying to lobby though their chances, frankly, are slim. The Spanish government has identified online casinos as a source of revenue. In theory, online players are also being taxed on their income tax and value-added tax, although this is getting increasingly hard to monitor.

Among the many operators awarded gambling licenses in Spain are 888, Betfair, Sportingbet and William Hill. Find reviews in Spanish on OCR Espana.