The Spanish Gaming Commission’s Role
Spain’s Directorate General for the Regulation of Gambling sits within the Ministry of Finance and reports to the State Secretary of Finance. Its responsibilities include issuing gambling licences, collecting fees and reporting on funds reserved for lotteries.
Its remit extends beyond granting casino licences. The commission can take action against illegal gambling and begin disciplinary proceedings when licensed operators fail to follow the rules.
The commission also commissions and carries out research into gambling’s effects on individuals and society. It uses media and public information campaigns to raise awareness of gambling-related concerns and encourage responsible play.
Licence Categories
Three kinds of gambling authorization are issued by the commission:
- A general licence, valid for up to ten years.
- A single licence, renewable for a term of one to five years.
- Permits for occasional activities, with validity periods that vary.
Casino operators generally need both a general licence and relevant single licences. The general authorization permits online gambling; a separate single licence is required for each game type offered. Operators may apply for a single licence alongside their general application or later. A single licence must be in place before bets are accepted on:
- Sports betting
- Horse racing
- Contests
- Poker
- Bingo
- Roulette
- Blackjack
- Complementary games
- Slots
Bacarrat
Operator Requirements
Applicants seeking a Spanish online gambling licence are expected to satisfy requirements such as:
- Every casino software product must be fully tested by a laboratory approved by the commission.
- Maintaining a “gambling central unit” that authorities can access for oversight.
- Limiting wagers to Spanish citizens.
- Submitting an operational plan for the commission’s review.
- Operators must be established as Spanish public limited companies. An online casino operator also needs a domain ending in es.
Applicants face licensing charges, while casino operators also pay a 1% administrative fee and must keep their taxes up to date. Depending on the type of operation, tax rates fall between 10% and 25%.
How Licensing Works
An operator seeking a licence files an application with specified financial and legal records. The submission must also contain a preliminary certification report prepared by an independent laboratory approved by the commission.
When the application is accepted, the operator receives a provisional licence, allowing the online casino to launch while final certification is pending. The final report is due within four months of approval. Once it has been received, the commission can issue the full licence.
What a Spanish Licence Means
In Spain, the Spanish Gaming Commission has wide-ranging powers to supervise gambling businesses. It applies consistent standards intended to promote operator compliance and tackle problem gambling. A Spanish licence indicates an operator’s standing within Spain’s regulatory system; by itself, it does not show that the operator is authorized in Canada. Casinos reported to hold a Spanish licence include bet365, Betsson, William Hill and Interwetten.
