888 has become the first international operator to launch live dealer roulette games in the regulated Spanish online gambling market.
The launch follows Spanish national regulator DGOJ’s confirmation last week that it had granted its first licence for live dealer roulette to the London-listed operator.
888 becomes the second operator to launch live streamed roulette games in Spain on a regulated basis, following Casino Gran Madrid’s launch of a Playtech-powered service in January. The land-based casino’s online business operates under a licence granted by the autonomous region of Madrid back in May 2011, which also allows it to offer online slots – banned in the rest of Spain - to local residents.
The live roulette games for 888’s Spanish players are now being broadcast for 16 hours a day, seven days a week from live gaming supplier Evolution Gaming’s new studio facility at the bricks ‘n’ mortar Casino Rincon de Pepe in Murcia.
VP Regulated Markets for 888, Yuval Benyamini, said the company was confident that being among the first to market with live dealer roulette would enable it to build on its “significant market share in Spain” established since the dot.es market opened for business in June last year.
Sebastian Johannisson, head of account management for 888’s live casino partner Evolution Gaming, said it was “fantastic” that his company had helped 888 “achieve first-to-market advantage” in Spain.
National gambling regulator the DGOJ announced last week that it would decide by the end of April on whether or not online slots and exchange betting will be legalised within the dot.es market.
Spain is also due to review its restriction on in-play betting in May, when it is also bound under the Spanish gaming law to re-open the application process for new licences.
Article written by Stephen Carter
