Internet gambling challenged in Spain

TO DATE, sports betting has only been available in Spain via a growing number of Internet based sites.

So the regional authorities are planning to react by licensing land-based services.

To take advantage of this change, the UK's leading turf accountant, William Hill, plans to create a joint venture with Spain's Codere. According to Codere's CEO Jose Antonio Martinez Sampedro: "Sports betting has been in Spain since the arrival of the Internet. We welcome the Autonomous regions' moves to regulate it, allowing for the development of a market where customers can enjoy sports betting safely."

The companies claim that the growth in the number of Internet operators targeting Spain is evidence that there is strong demand for these services amongst the populace. µ