Groupe Bernard Tapie Applies for Spanish Gaming License

Groupe Bernard Tapie was one of many companies with online gaming interests who applied for an operator's license in Spain this week. Find out more about why this process is occurring and what this might mean in the future.

Bernard Tapie

Groupe Bernard Tapie (GBT) has become a household name for poker players over the last several months due to its involvement with Full Tilt Poker. In November, GBT signed a deal with the United States Department of Justice which may lead to an acquisition of Full Tilt.

This week, GBT has caught the attention of the online gaming world in a different way. 30+ companies with online gaming interests have recently applied for licenses in Spain, and it has now been revealed that GBT is one of them.

The state of Spanish gaming

The Spanish government is currently in the process of regulating online gaming throughout Spain. Ultimately this will result in a segregated player pool much like the ones that currently exist in both Italy and France.

Additionally, the Spanish government will now be responsible for the licensing of gaming operators within the country, and they have the ability to impose restrictions on the player experience. These potential restrictions are likely to include maximum buy-ins and include deposit limits (although the latter restrictions were recently increased and are pending further review).

Hold'em, Omaha, Draw, and Stud games have been approved to be offered by sites who acquire licenses. The next significant matter for the government is to determine which sites will be granted them.

Groupe Bernard Tapie and 30+ Others Apply

The deadline for the initial wave of gaming license applications was Wednesday, and dozens of companies made sure that their applications were in by then. PokerStars, bwin.Party, OnGame, 888, and many other well-known gaming companies were all expected applicants, but Groupe Bernard Tapie's application came as something of a surprise.

GBT's application for a Spanish license does not necessarily represent progress in their potential takeover of Full Tilt, but it is reasonable to assume that they are interested in becoming a significant player in online gaming. If GBT both receives a Spanish license AND takes ownership and control of Full Tilt, it would pave a clear path for the future existence of FullTiltPoker.es.

by Matt Kaufman