Spain’s gaming regulator, the Dirección General de Ordenación del Juego, is expected to announce a one-year application period for new online gambling licenses in the country, expanding the traditional one-month application window.
According to a report at casinopedia, though applications will be accepted for a year, applicants will know within six months if they are approved.
The regulator said it decided to increase the applications timeframe after receiving interest from international operators who have yet to enter the market.
The move comes as recent figures from the regulator show strong growth in online gaming in the market, including an 84 percent increase year-to-year in online slots play. Overall, online play is up 10 percent in the first half of 2017.
It also comes after the regulator ordered two sites—Forosortealo.com and Directbet.eu—to stop accepting Spanish players since they are not licensed in Spain.
In another story, neighboring Portugal has granted its 11th online gambling license to A Nossa Aposta – Jogos e Apostas Online, S.A., allowing the company to operate in the local market under the Nossa Aposta brand. The operator will offer online casino and slot games.
