The Spanish Gambling Commission delayed the approval of the national online gambling legislation due to a lack of deep research studies on betting laws and licensing. ‘Tal vez mañana’ is Spanish for ‘maybe tomorrow’; these were the words the Spanish gambling regulatory chief, Enrique Alejo, muttered during a news broadcast in Madrid this week.
The commission wishes to take a more thorough legal approach on the potential risks of licensing online gambling and its effects on players. Other plans include establishing a consultative process for land-based casino operators in order to get suggestions and recommendations based on their experience.
The ongoing online gambling debate in Spain has been going on for a year. It was expected to be finished in the first quarter of 2013. However, the recent news shows it may take longer than expected.
According to Mr. Alejo, at the moment, the commission doesn’t have enough legal information to pass a conclusive gambling bill. The Commission is also worried about the latest statistics on gambling behavior among Spanish gamblers, which have doubled since September of 2012. On top of that, the number of illegal gambling sites in Spain has reached 250.
During the news conference, the Spanish government said they would continue to grant gambling licenses until the middle of the year, when the betting laws will be once more reviewed.