Designated online gaming regulators in Spain and Greece have recently announced that they are going to close in and shut down operations that offer their gaming services to citizens of those countries illegally. The Spanish gaming authority order 12 different unlicensed operators to stop their illegal gaming activities within Spain in 10 days. These 12 companies that have been operating in Spain include Betsson, Come On Europe, Ltd., Tempo Gaming, Ltd., UWin Poker, Dream Makers Gaming Tech, Gaming VC, 10bet.com, Globet International Sports, Midas Player, Ltd., RM Royal Media Group NV, 12Bet and Media Entertainment. The president of the Spanish gaming authority said that this particular order shows the professionalism and seriousness that their regulatory body is functioning under. It is a clear indicator of the online gaming market in Spain is heading in the right direction, protecting players and providers. Taking action against unlicensed operators is vital to ensure that the market is orderly and safe, and the simple fact that these 12 operators were providing Spanish customers with services without a license simply highlights the fact that the regulatory agency in Spain needs additional work.
Among the 12 companies highlighted in this order, Betsson is the only one that objective. Their claim is that they do not do business in Spain; they simply provide a website that is in Spanish to provide services for Spanish-speaking players across the globe. An independent public authority that is based in Athens, the Hellenic Gaming Commission, HGC, released a notice claiming that it resumed control of its online gaming services in Greece from these 12 noted companies. In order to achieve the license for an online gaming service, companies must undergo a formal tender process, which has not yet been initiated by these 12 companies. License holders in the European Union member states are able to continue their online operations, if they choose to join a retrospective and voluntary taxation scheme. Currently, there have been 24 different companies that consented and have been issued licenses, but these licenses are only temporary. The HGC noted that there are many gaming operators out there that are unlicensed and still provide their services in the Grecian market. They have passed those unlicensed operators to inhibit the opportunity for Grecian players to access their gaming platforms, or they will be blacklisted and charged with a felony, which carries with it a minimum 10-year sentence in prison and/or fines ranging from €200,000-€500,000.
In a formal complaint, the Remote Gambling Association claimed that this blog is protectionist the CEO of the RGA claim that the specific measures have been introduced purely by haste and have not garnered the approval of the European Commission. It is for this reason that they must take action and force Greece to reconsider their actions, because it is claimed that this is not coincidental at all, because the Greek government is considering selling its share in a gambling monopoly, OPAP. It is claimed that Greece wants to eliminate their competition, which will increase the valuation of this gambling monopoly unfairly.