Spanish gambling regulator Dirección General de Ordenación del Juego (DGOJ) has revealed that the country’s online gaming market experienced a significant year-on-year increase in turnover during the three months to March 31.
Turnover during the first quarter of the year amounted to just under €2 billion ($2.2 billion), which represents an increase of 24.5% on the total posted in the corresponding period last year.
Gross gaming revenue during the opening three months of the year also jumped by 13.4% on a year-on-year basis to €77.4 million.
Betting remains the most popular form of online gambling in the country, with such activities accounting for 50.2% of total gameplay during the first quarter.
Online poker attracted 25.2% of total traffic, casino games were just behind with 23.7% of the market share, while bingo and other elements accounted for just 0.9% and 0.06% respectively.
Confirmation of this year-on-year growth comes ahead of the entrance of 12 new entrants into the Spanish online gaming market, which could help boost revenue further this year.
Eurobet, Novomatic, Net Entertainment, Bally Interactive and Betclic are among the operators that have been handed licences and will launch in Spain this year, joining the likes of William Hill, 888 and bwin.party that currently hold the majority share of the market.
In addition, the market will be expanded to allow online slot games to be offered to players.
Playtech has recently announced that it will supply all existing local licensees in the Spanish market with access to its slots portfolio.
Slots on offer from the company includes premium branded games from film studios Paramount and Universal, in addition to various land-based titles.
Shimon Akad, COO chief operating officer Playtech, said: “The inclusion of online casino games and slots in Spain is a major breakthrough and will serve to increase our market share there.
“Our licensees and their players can now enjoy a complete Omni-Channel gaming solution online, on any mobile device, in-venue, and in retail outlets, across casino, bingo, poker, sports, virtual, live, and social, casual and fixed-odds games.”
Prima Networks, powered by Microgaming, has also launched online and mobile slots in the regulated Spanish market.
source : www.igamingbusiness.com
