Spain’s officer in charge of vetting gaming industry applications has walked out just weeks ahead of the market opening. eGR reports Juan Carlos Alfonso Rubio, deputy general director of the country’s gambling industry regulatory authority, has left with immediate effect. Rubio has been responsible for assessing some 62 applications from operators for licences. Observers are already speculating this could delay the opening ever further, a local source saying: “This now creates a situation of uncertainty that we could do without in the run-up to regulating the market.”
It might not be that long at all though according to one course close to the matter.
“I would have thought that his departure would have slowed down the process slightly, but the new director of gaming Enrique Alejo is hugely experienced in the private and public sectors, so I have absolute confidence that he will manage the process expertly. Sacha Michaud, president of the Jdigital, the Spanish operator association said. “I think there may be a few weeks’ delay but a lot of the work has already been done, so I expect things to continue moving forward,” he explained.
A local source added that Rubio’s departure has been on the cards for some time and the he was “to leave as soon as the market opened.” Laura Minguitos takes over the role in the interim as they begin the search for a new deputy director. The market itself, which was expected to open within the 3-4 weeks, could now be delayed until even May.
