Spain’s gambling industry faces renewed regulatory uncertainty after Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez called a snap general election for 29 November. The election has interrupted work on proposed reforms to the country’s gambling legislation.
The election was called after opposition parties rejected a government housing bill. Several planned gambling measures could now face delays or changes depending on the outcome of the vote.
Cristina Romero de Alba, a partner at gambling law firm Loyra Abogados, told NEXT.io that the election represents a significant pause and could lead to a change in direction for the proposed reforms to Spain’s Gambling Act, Law 13/2011.
The proposals had included changes to several areas of gambling regulation. However, measures that have already entered into law will continue to apply despite the election. One example is Spain’s new cross-operator deposit limit system, which remains in force. The election therefore affects reforms still under development rather than the country’s existing regulatory framework.
The next stage will depend on the election result and the priorities of the government that follows. The Spanish gambling sector will now have to wait for greater clarity on whether the planned reforms will continue in their current form.
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