By popular demand, we are now publishing this list. Please inform me of any changes that you are aware of : willem@vanoort.org is my email address. This list will be updated regularly.
iGaming Summmit to take place 25.10 in Madrid, Hotel Eurostars
09.00- 18.00 hrs
The participation of Gaming In Spain, and GVO is at 15.50 hrs
Manuel de la Marta(COO GranViaOnline.com)
Rubén Velasco (Consultant - Internet Advantage) Simón Muñoz (CEO EducaPoker) Jacki Becker (Consultant Gaming)
We are looking forward to seeing you there
the link to the event on LinkedIn is http://events.linkedin.com/iGAMINGSUMMIT11/pub/798131
Gaming in Spain will organize a session about eGaming at @Omexpo in Barcelona on the 20th of October.
GAMING IN SPAIN at OMEXPO Barcelona
13.50 - 14.30h
Marketing of eGaming in Spain
1. Display
2. Affiliate marketing
3. Social Media
4. SEO
Participants
Manuel de la Marta, COO GranViaOnline.com
Judd Muir, Yabadoo, SEO
Esther Camañes, Mid-Market Media Sales Executive, Yahoo!
Carlos Sáez, CEO Pricebets
Moderator
Willem van Oort, CEO GranViaOnline.com
NOTE:
As member of the GAMING IN SPAIN Group, you have the right to a 15% discount, please email me willem@vanoort.org for a promo code.
Link to Omexpo: http://omexpo.com/
Link to Omexpo on LinkedIn Events: http://bit.ly/psLbf7
Under pressure…
We’re back from the Summer break and, hopefully, heading into the homestretch of a regulatory race that was initiated back in May, when the Spanish Gaming Regulatory Act was approved. In the theory, the process should culminate by mid-November, with the opening of an application period in which all interested companies will be able to apply for an on-line gaming license. If everything goes as expected, all Spaniards will have the opportunity to play in the first regulated on-line casinos and betting houses as a Christmas gift…
However and prior to the opening of the application period, all the development regulations must be approved. Right now, there are at least three Royal Decrees and more than twelve Ministerial Orders that need to be passed in order to complete the Spanish regulatory framework on gaming, so, there is quite a lot of work around and, unfortunately, not much time left: the call for early General Elections on the 20th of November has squeezed the margins to a minimum.
It seems that the guys at the General Directorate for the Regulation of Gaming have done their part of the work, as most of the drafts of such regulations exist and are being circulated, but its final signature and approval corresponds to the Minister of Economy (in the case of the Ministerial Orders) and to the Council of Ministers (in the case of Royal Decrees), and once there, factors that are beyond everyone’s control could slow down the process.
Considering how tight the deadlines are, a delay could be critical: if the licenses were not granted on January 1st, 2012 at the latest, a new period of legal uncertainty would arise, as in the theory the infringements and penalties regime contemplated in the Gaming Regulatory Act against non-licensed companies would start to be enforceable on that date, and amending an Act is not an easy thing…
The Ministry of Economy is under pressure and the whole industry also is… So let’s prepare the paperwork for the applications and hope everything goes well!
Pedro López
MartínAndino Abogados
MartínAndino Abogados is a Spanish law firm based in Madrid and specialized in on-line gaming issues
Zitro, the company owned by entrepreneur Johnny Ortiz, launched their Free to play site today http://www.globalzitro.com/juegos-online/
Transferring the user experience of the land based bingo machines, these games are now for the first time to be found on the internet. This is the first online launch of 100% spanish games, and I think it is an interesting development.
For now the site offers only Free to play games, but I guess this will change when the regulation allows this? Congratulations so far!
Gaming in Spain official Media partner of Poker Expo (Madrid 24-26.11) at Casino Gran Madrid @pokerexpo
Pokerexpo is the first Spanish global event which focuses on all the aspects of Poker lifestyle.
It will be held between the 24th and 26th of November in Madrid, at the emblematic Casino Gran Madrid.
B2B and B2C
On the 24th and 25th, this event is for professionals only, from PM of the 25th and on the 26th, this event will open to the general public.
MORE INFORMATION
Other partners include: WebGaming Solutions, ECIJA, XSGambling.
More information will follow soon, as Gaming in Spain is media partner of this event.
The official Event website is www.Pokerexpo.es
While most of us are enjoying the summer, many of us are preparing for an interesting second half of 2011.
Since the conference season starts early in September, I wanted to take the opportunity to bring these targeted events to your attention.
SPAIN AT EIXEXPO IN MILAN
Larger than ever, EIGExpo takes place in Milan from 19th of September. The part about Spain will be as follows:
What will be the role of the sports and media market with the new Spanish Gaming Law?
• What opportunities does the recently approved Spanish law provide to the media and sports sectors?
• Is the white-label model an option for media and sports companies according to the new regulatory changes?
• Are the online gaming operators going to be the new “business angels” for sports clubs and media?
Moderator: Santiago Asensi¸ Partner, Asensi Abogados
Speakers:
Ian Ince, Head of Regulatory Affairs, Sportingbet
Willem Van Oort, CEO, Gran Via Online
Ivan García-Pelayo, CEO, Los Pelayos
José Velasco, Chairman, Zebra Producciones
Verónica Valverde, Executive Director for Digital Business, Endemol Spain
Michel Messina, Director Telefonica Cable
Please join us at EIG, we have a 10% discount for Members of this Group, if you quote WVO10 at http://bit.ly/robmHn you will receive that.
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