The gambling industry in Spain is one of the hottest and online activity has picked up substantially. This trend has already been predicted to continue and is helping pave the way for a lot of partnerships tying together sports and gambling. One of the more recent deals goes well beyond Spanish borders, though, as the Real Madrid soccer team has made Russian sportsbook Marathonbet its official Russian partner. It’s the first time in the team’s 117-year history that it has brought onboard a Russian organization.
Through the arrangement, Marathonbet will be able to increase its marketing presence in Spain through the use of virtual LED boards that will be used in Russian broadcasts of Real Madrid matches. It will also be able to launch “exclusive offers” tied to the soccer organization and can also host special events during the upcoming season, including matchday VIP experiences, meet-and-greets and more.
Marathonbet has been around since 1997, offering live and pre-betting action on various sporting events and other activities. This is its second agreement in Spain, as it connected with a soccer club out of Seville, Sevilla FC, earlier this year.
The latest partnership comes as Spain, just like many countries, is considering drastic changes to how gambling operators can advertise their services. The industry collectively set about to introduce its own guidance to avoid the government overstepping its bounds, and that guidance has been accepted by gaming regulators in the country.
Spaniards seem to have figured out how to gamble without going overboard. Several studies have shown that problem gambling in the country is only at around 0.3%, tied with Norway for the lowest in all of the European markets. Perhaps the country can share its secret with the rest of the world – maybe it’s just the siesta that’s doing it.
Whatever the reason, or reasons, the country wants to keep things under control, which is part of the reason the new rules were implemented. It’s also why the 2019 Gaming in Spain Conference was held earlier this month. The two-day event is designed to provide updates to regulations from the country’s gambling authority, as well as talk about how the industry is developing overall.
Leading up to the conference, Gaming in Spain founder Wilem van Oort talked about the state of gambling affairs in the country and explained, “Spain is happening now. The country’s iGaming market is booming and there are a number of very attractive tax advantages to be had,” said van Oort. “While there are other markets with perhaps more long-term potential – such as the U.S. – Spain is already open for business, has a significantly larger population than any individual U.S. state, and is considerably less protectionist to boot.”
