Recently, PokerCollectif learned you that the Spanish Government took to PokerStars.In summary, he tried to recover retroactively EUR million that, according to him, PokerStars owes. The reason? For offering poker the Spaniards between 2008 and today. This claim was based on laws dated 1966 and 1977.
Today, it seems that all either retracted in order since PokerStars officially lifted its licence in Spain, dated from June 1. We do not have the precise details of the agreement, but it seems that the game operator a line has managed to resolve the conflict with the Spain concerning its tax debt of EUR 260 million. Scheduled for Tuesday, June 5, 2012, the opening of the Spanish market will contribute to the growth of PokerStars which, let us remember, is still in discussions with the Department of American Justice on the redemption of Full Tilt Poker. One of the representatives at PokerStars who deals primarily with the France and the Italy commented on this subject: "The Spain represents a very important market for poker and boasts some of the best players in the world". PokerStars has to this day a license for several countries in europe including the Denmark, the Italy, the France, the Estonia, the Belgium, the Isle of Man and Malta.
What is frustrating for the Spanish players is that their account on PokerStars.com will be closed. They will make their last withdrawal and say goodbye to their privilege of player. They will have to recreate a new account at PokerStars.es and thus losing their VIP status. Obviously, more your VIP status was high, more frustration is going to be great. These players can still be consoled by saying that, Unlike players from Purple Lounge, they do not lose much of their bankroll. This method of doing is required by DGOJ (Dirección general de Ordenación del Juego) that result by this measure to ensure absolute equality between operators who have already exercised before the regulation and new entrants. Other rooms who have filed applications for licence will soon get which perhaps bwin.party and 888. Bwin.party is probably not too much problem getting its license which agreed recently to pay 33.6 M euros in arrears of taxes and 888 in turn contributed € 7.4 million behind tax in addition to a sum of 1.3 million dollars in interest.
In addition to PokerStars, other sites to obtain a licence are Codere, Cirsa, Jaxx, Ladbrokes, bet365, William Hill and Sportingbet.
Online poker sites that hold a licence and will operate in the Spanish territory must pay to the Government 25% of their gross revenues. According to one estimate, online games sector is expected to reach a turnover of about EUR 800 million by 2014, which will not harm an economy which has the greatest need of every dollar!
Discuss this news on PokerCollectif forums: Spain: the first licences are granted
